The edge of the Sonoran Desert in Southern California is in the throes of Palm Springs Modernism Week 2022. The beloved architecture festival is now back for its newest edition, running 17 – 27 February 2022 in various locations in the design-savvy town. Arid Californian landscapes, dreamy modernist architecture, art, product design, the golden era of Hollywood and poolside glamour all play a role in this fabulous feast of all things midcentury. There are some 350 events on offer, including the returning Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale, plenty of tours of iconic homes, as well as neighbourhood tours and more. What better place to escape to?
Top picks at Palm Springs Modernism Week 2022
Forgotten Frey: Albert Frey’s Cree House
Cree House in Cathedral City is up for sale
Cree House is one of the lesser-known works by acclaimed California architect Albert Frey. The man behind Palm Springs classics, such as Frey House II, Loewy House and the Tramway Gas Station with its famous ‘flying’ canopy, created this hidden gem around 1955. Having worked with Le Corbusier and influenced by modernist teachings from Europe, Frey worked on this private residence in Cathedral City; left neglected for years and fell into disrepair before it got restored to its former glory for Palm Springs Modernism Week 2019. Elements such as the exterior and interior wall panels, the fluted fibreglass deck pieces, kitchen appliances and cabinets have been preserved and remain part of this Desert Modernist house.
Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour
One of Palm Springs’ most famous homes, the Kaufmann House by Richard Neutra.
Granted, this is not a new event on the agenda; but it is possibly the best, biggest and most loved architecture tour in Palm Springs Modernism Week’s history. Hop on an open-top bus to experience the city’s architecture under the sunny skies and from a unique vantage point, atop a double decker bus. The tour goes through the centre of Palm Springs and several key landmarks and historical neighbourhoods, offering a great overview of the area’s architecture and urban feel.
Twin Palms guided walking tour
Hugh Kaptur (b. 1931) is one of Palm Springs’ most prolific architects and part of a group of modernists who defined Desert Modernism. Pictured here is his house for Hollywood actor Steve McQueen.
If you prefer walking, take this tour for an insider’s look into one of Palm Springs’ most coveted and older neighbourhoods for midcentury architecture. Peek into homes and stroll around blocks to admire the works of Hugh Kaptur, William Krisel, Donald Wexler, and more, accompanied by juicy information from the tour’s knowledgeable guides.
Julius Shulman’s Modern San Diego
One of the photographer's subjects, Chuey House.
Acclaimed architectural photographer Julius Shulman produced over 200 projects, documenting some of the USA's most exciting modernist architecture along the way. San Diego was one of his focused projects and here, curator Keith York discussed the creative's extensive body of work and lasting influence across the decades.
INFORMATION
modernismweek.com
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Florencia Rodriguez on the importance of curiosity, criticism and cultural freedomFlorencia Rodriguez, architect, writer and artistic director of this year’s Chicago Architecture Biennial, comments on the state of the States
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Jean-Michel Othoniel takes over Avignon for his biggest ever exhibitionOriginally approached by Avignon to mark their 25th anniversary as the European Capital of Culture, Jean-Michel Othoniel more than rose to the challenge, installing 270 artworks around the city
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What is the future for design in Africa? Designer Hicham Lahlou shares possibilities for the continent at largeThe Moroccan designer celebrates 30 years of his practice. Here he speaks from his studio in Rabat about his own career and the creative possibilities for design in Morocco and the rest of Africa
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Florencia Rodriguez on the importance of curiosity, criticism and cultural freedom
Florencia Rodriguez, architect, writer and artistic director of this year’s Chicago Architecture Biennial, comments on the state of the States
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A 432 Park Avenue apartment is an art-filled family home among the cloudsAt 432 Park Avenue, inside and outside compete for starring roles; welcome to a skyscraping, art-filled apartment in Midtown Manhattan
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Discover this sleek-but-warm sanctuary in the heart of the Wyoming wildsThis glorious wood-and-stone residence never misses a chance to show off the stirring landscape it calls home
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Inside a Montana house, putting the American West's landscape at its heartA holiday house in the Montana mountains, designed by Walker Warner Architects and Gachot Studios, scales new heights to create a fresh perspective on communing with the natural landscape
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Peel back this Michigan lakeside house’s cool slate exterior to reveal a warm wooden homeIn Detroit, Michigan, this lakeside house, a Y-shaped home by Disbrow Iannuzzi Architects, creates a soft balance between darkness and light through its minimalist materiality
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Inside the new theatre at Jacob’s Pillow and its ‘magic box’, part of a pioneering complex designed for danceJacob’s Pillow welcomes the reborn Doris Duke Theatre by Mecanoo, a new space that has just opened in the beloved Berkshires cultural hub for the summer season
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A Rancho Mirage home is in tune with its location and its architect-owners’ passionsArchitect Steven Harris and his collaborator and husband, designer Lucien Rees Roberts, have built a home in Rancho Mirage, surrounded by some of America’s most iconic midcentury modern works; they invited us on a tour
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Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House – a project built with accessibility at its heartThe dwelling, which you can visit in Illinois, is a classic example of Wright’s Usonian architecture, and was also built for a client with a disability long before accessibility was widely considered
