Palm Springs’s unique look is apparent from a simple drive through this desert city. In the mid-20th century, the city’s popularity surged, and architects from across the U.S. experimented with sleek, modernist designs that led to the creation of the Desert Modernism movement. Today, that movement is alive and well, and Palm Springs features some of the largest mid-century modern architectural examples in the world. This city’s one-of-a-kind design legacy is celebrated every year during Modernism Week, when architecture enthusiasts from around the world descend on Palm Springs for hundreds of events centered around the city’s designs.
The first iteration of Modernism Week was in 2006 and has rapidly grown in the past decade. From 2012 to 2018, attendance for this event increased from 12,000 to 125,000, and it has grown from a celebration of Palm Springs to a national event centered around the modern design movement. The modernist style will be immediately recognizable to most. Modernist homes have open-concept floor plans, tall glass windows throughout, a blending of indoor-outdoor spaces, and often, flat roofs.
This year’s Modernism Week is scheduled to begin on February 16th and run through February 26th. There will be more than 350 events throughout the 11 days of Modernism Week, stretching across more than 30 neighborhoods in the city. The occasion will be a significant windfall for tourism as thousands flock to appreciate Palm Springs’s architecture and design.
Events throughout the week include home tours of famous houses in the city, architectural tours, a classic car show, nightly cocktail parties, and discussions from architectural experts. This substantial program of events features something for every taste, including a few key events that will stand out to attendees.
Famous properties designed by renowned architects, including William Cody, Donald Wexler, and A. Quincy Jones, will be available for home tours throughout the week. Many of these homes were inhabited by celebrities, such as Elvis Presley’s honeymoon home, Frank Sinatra’s famed estate, and a home owned by Marilyn Monroe. Touring the homes of Palm Springs is like a trip through history and aesthetic styles, exploring those with tiki designs, shag carpets, and futurist aesthetics that are well-preserved.
The event is also a celebration of the history behind the Modernist design style. There are many 20th-century-themed events, including a fashion show designed to mimic the style of the 1969 Academy Awards, a vintage car show, mid-century cocktail parties complete with tiki bars and go-go dancers, and the massive Modernism Week Opening Night Party that has a chic 1970s disco style.
To enjoy this one-of-a-kind occasion, tickets are being sold online for each of the individual events, with costs varying. Watch for Haven’s special Bicoastal Issue, covering New York and Los Angeles, which be distributed throughout the Coachella Valley during Modernism Week.
