Palm Springs Modernism Week Announces 20th Anniversary Schedule

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Started successful 2006 to parallel an yearly plan expo exploring mid-century architecture and design, Modernism Week successful Palm Springs has grown into a landmark bi-annual lawsuit that provides a unsocial glimpse into the postwar architectural glamour and innovation epitomized by the cinematic California city. Its eagerly anticipated poolside parties and talks by notable historians and preservationists gully vintage plan and architecture enthusiasts from each 50 states and astir the world. And portion uncommon opportunities to enactment similar the Rat Pack wrong homes, including Frank Sinatra's legendary Twin Palms estate, are hot ticket items (the PS ModCom "King of Cool" soiree astatine the Steve McQueen Residence sold retired successful six minutes) galore insiders see the location tours arsenic 1 of the astir breathtaking reasons to attend.

Modernism Week Celebrates 20 Years

"Founded 20 years agone to grant midcentury and modern plan and financially enactment section preservation organizations and historical neighborhoods, it has evolved into a globally recognized festival; successful February it attracted implicit 130,000 visitors and generated much than $68 cardinal for the section economy," shares Chairman William Kopelk via an authoritative release. In solemnisation of its 20th anniversary, an awesome enactment of tours, talks and experiences has been curated for 2025. 'As always, we're introducing new, breathtaking programs to beryllium enjoyed for the archetypal clip portion bringing backmost immoderate of our astir fashionable location tours from past years,' adds Modernism Week CEO Lisa Vossler Smith. 'We're particularly grateful to the galore homeowners who are generously participating by donating their homes for tours and can't hold to stock them with our Modernism Week community.'

With implicit 400 experiences taking spot crossed 11 days - from acquisition talks, publication signings and the accidental to store vintage treasures, to the 20th Anniversary Opening Night Extravaganza at the Palm Springs Air Museum and peculiar meal theatre shows by PS UNDERGROUND – these are immoderate suggested highlights.

Notable and New

Desert Modernist architects, including Richard Neutra, William Krisel, and Albert Frey, helped found Palm Springs arsenic a world-recognized halfway for modern plan – in fact, this year's keynote talker is Dr. Raymond Neutra, the Austrian-American architect's youngest lad – and for an informative dive into their present worldwide celebrated legacy, led by respected section usher Trevor O'Donnell, Ten Architects Who Made Palm Springs Modern (various dates, $130) takes an in-depth look astatine the works of these visionary Modernists and their midcentury heyday. New for 2025, Celebrating a Decade of Palm Springs Modern Living by James Schnepf: A Special Home Tour (February 18, $160) promises a uncommon accidental to research 7 homes successful 5 neighborhoods designed by legendary midcentury architects arsenic captured successful Schnepf's book, Palm Springs Modern Living.

The Kaufman House © Mitch/Unsplash

The Parties

The spotlight doesn't conscionable radiance connected Palm Springs during Modernism Week but different locations astir the Coachella Valley, too, including The Lautner Compound in Desert Hot Springs. Sip cocktails and bask airy nibbles with owners Tracy Beckmann and Ryan Trowbridge connected a once-a-year circuit of the 4 elemental concrete, redwood, solid and alloy units present designed by innovative designer Lautner (February 14, $100). For its 1 and only Retro Martini Party, The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation volition contiguous its yearly shindig astatine the Butler Residence, aka the present Instagram-famous 'Pink Door House' successful what was past the Canyon Country Club (today the Indian Canyons neighborhood). Dress successful vintage attire for a photograph successful beforehand of the Hollywood Regency-style home's famed beforehand door, poolside oregon elsewhere crossed the manicured resort-style grounds – martini successful manus of course.

The Home Tours

At the westbound extremity of Tahquitz Canyon, the long-time residence of Albert Frey, Frey House II, represents an innovative adaptation of classical modernist principles and celebrates quality astatine each turn. Another spot whispered astir successful reverential tones, besides seldom seen up close, is The Kaufman House by Richard Neutra famously immortalized successful Slim Aarons' Poolside Gossip photogrph. Although the interior won't beryllium unfastened to the nationalist (peeking done the unfastened solid sliding doors is possible), a Garden Tour of the Kaufmann Residence (various dates, $75) provides an bonzer accidental to acquisition the iconic architecture and scenery plan that made this residence a planetary landmark.

And primitively designed by William Krisel and built successful 1960 arsenic a customized location for palmy developer Robert Alexander and his woman Helene, the futuristic House of Tomorrow is wherever Elvis and Priscilla Presley famously honeymooned successful 1967. Quintessential Palm Springs, it's considered a Modernism Week 'fan favorite,' the iconic residence was precocious reimagined by section interior decorator Michelle Boudreau but inactive features futuristic architectural elements including a pentagon-shaped excavation and unfastened spaces that blur the boundaries betwixt indoor and outdoor living.

The Neighborhood Tours

Architectural tours span much than 28 neighborhoods crossed Palm Springs, including immoderate of its astir historical districts, similar The Movie Colony. Once a backstage refuge of Hollywood Royalty (Cary Grant, Gloria Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe) Stars of The Movie Colony: Romantic Palm Springs (February 13, $50) is simply a delicious chemoreceptor astir the posh Movie Colony Neighborhood, which originated successful the 1930s with the luxe El Mirador Hotel arsenic its center. Fans of designer William Krisel – oregon movie buffs who privation to spot the thoroughfare wherever Jack and Alice lived successful 'Don't Worry Darling' – should caput to the Canyon View Estates neighborhood successful South Palm Springs. Designed successful 1962 arsenic California's archetypal abrogation location community, the last signifier (HOA7) is unfastened for a peculiar circuit (February 15, $75)

And Don't Miss

Often referred to arsenic 'Sunnylands,' the 200-acre Annenberg Estate successful Rancho Mirage was built successful the 1960s by philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg and has hosted galore heads of state, U.S. presidents, and influential satellite figures. A fascinating humanities tract filled with creation and governmental history, it's worthy adding to the must-see list. House circuit tickets spell connected merchantability connected the 15th of each month, but during Modernism Week, opportunities are much plentiful. And to acquisition midcentury architectural treasures of Palm Springs with a retro popular civilization humorist, past publication seats connected the Charles Phoenix Super Duper Double Decker Bus Tour (select dates, $160), who leads a well-narrated escapade astir town. Modernism Week runs February 13-23; and a 'fall preview' week volition tally successful October. modernismweek.com