Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 kicks off: our information
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Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 is about to kick off, which implies that midcentury trendy design, structure buffs, and classic preservation fans are about to as soon as once more descend upon Larger Palm Springs, from 13-23 February, to rejoice the annual modernist structure pageant.
Marking its Twentieth 12 months, the pageant provides a staggering 500 occasions over 11 days amid a surprising desert mountain backdrop and loads of poolside cocktail events. ‘Over the previous 20 years, Modernism Week has grown from a distinct segment celebration into an internationally recognised occasion, drawing design fans, architects, and cultural historians to Palm Springs with its expanded programming, excursions, and academic initiatives,’ says Lisa Vossler Smith, CEO of Modernism Week.
Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025: discover the pageant
Frank Sinatra Twin Palms Property Tour
(Picture credit score: John Lewis Marshall)
Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025: the fundamentals
Highlighting all issues midcentury, Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 spans structure, artwork, inside design, and classic tradition. It takes place yearly in Palm Springs, California – usually previewed in October by a small pattern roster of actions, whereas the primary occasion takes place in February. This 12 months’s 500 or so bookable happenings are actually out there by the pageant’s web site – some free and a few ticketed.
View of Palm Springs throughout Modernism Week
(Picture credit score: Palm Springs Modernism Week)
Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025: the highlights
New properties and hoods
This 12 months, the pageant’s footprint has grown with greater than 28 neighbourhoods collaborating in residence excursions, providing a uncommon alternative to view iconic dwellings and discover interiors by celebrated designers, that includes from panorama structure to artwork and classic décor. These embody properties designed by famend modernists, reminiscent of Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Albert Frey, William Cody, William Krisel and Donald Wexler unfold throughout Indian Canyons, Previous Las Palmas, Sandpiper, and Canyon View Estates. New neighbourhoods on tour routes span Canyon Springs, Coco Cabana, Canyon Colony West, and Vista Canyon.
Whereas many excursions are in Palm Springs, there are a number of happening in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and close by Joshua Tree, such because the Joshua Tree Retreat Heart which can showcase a Frank Lloyd Wright web site presentation with architectural consultants and a self-guided strolling tour, together with lunch.
(Picture credit score: Bradley Krisel)
Vossler Smith recommends the symposium by the Palm Springs Faculty of Desert Modernism, Palm Springs Artwork Museum and Palm Springs Architectural Alliance with a self-driving residence tour of 5 important properties that helped to determine the distinctive modernism architectural motion, and the desert backyard at Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann Home, as a couple of ‘musts’ on the agenda. Together with among the iconic residences which have solely been open a couple of occasions over the previous a number of many years, collaborating in excursions this 12 months are Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms property, Steve McQueen’s home on Southridge, Arthur Elrod’s ‘Escape Home,’ and personal residences by Albert Frey, Donald Wexler, and Raymond Loewy.
As an extra-added bonus, William Cody’s private 1954 residence will characteristic an immersive mild set up by internationally acclaimed artist Phillip Okay Smith, III, which is about to interact with the glass, mild, and geometry of the house.
Iconic Dwelling Tour of the Griffing and Goldberg residences, Cody Pool
(Picture credit score: James Haefner)
Different new gems in 2025
New this 12 months on the PS ModCom Iconic Dwelling Tour are the Griffing and Goldberg residences situated within the unique and historic Southridge estates. Griffing was an authentic investor within the neighbourhood and in 2014, architect Susan Secoy Jensen purchased the house and restored it to its authentic, minimalist design. Industrialist and inventor Stanley Goldberg acquired his home in 1962 and commissioned William F. Cody to increase his authentic flooring plan.
Additionally new for 2025 is the 1923 Spanish Revival King Gillette Property tour in Mesa, which was absolutely resorted by Invoice Stewart of Stewart|Mohr Designs.
For a self-driving tour, observe the lead of creator James Schnepf who takes guests by six properties in 5 neighbourhoods all from legendary midcentury architects featured in his e book, Palm Springs Fashionable Residing. Anticipate to see uncommon gems from William Krisel, E Stewart Williams, Charles DuBois, Howard Lapham, and Lance O’Donnell.
Palm Springs Backyard of Eden E book Signing and Tour
(Picture credit score: Daniel Ryan)
Featured properties
The annual featured residence excursions showcase traditional residences which have been reimagined by right now’s designers. On provide this 12 months is Albert Frey’s 1954 The West Home in Previous Las Palmas, remodelled by Michelle Boudreau Design and beforehand owned by actor Adam West of Batman fame with a couple of quirky nods to the ‘batcave’.
The opposite featured house is Sackley Chase, designed by Stan Sackley in 1976 and adorned by inside designer Steve Chase. Lately up to date by Grace Dwelling Furnishings, this dwelling has putting brutalist structure options, Italian pure travertine flooring and expansive partitions of glass with eye-catching views of the encompassing mountains and the Indian Canyons golf course. It’ll even be the placement for the ‘Saturday Evening Soiree’ on 15 February with loads of cocktails and gourmand treats by native favorite eatery Trio.
Different properties to not miss embody the multi-level Howard Hughes 1957 residence by Araby Cove on the ‘PS ModCom Iconic Dwelling Tour’ that includes floating staircases and partitions of glass with an expansive view of the Coachella Valley. An non-compulsory cocktail reception will happen on 17 February after the tour.
James Logan Abernathy Residence Tour
(Picture credit score: John Lewis Marshall)
Again by standard demand
The open-air double-decker bus excursions are a implausible method to get your bearings on the huge architectural choices in several neighbourhoods and downtown industrial buildings. To rejoice its 20-year milestone, the pageant has introduced again the unique bus tour, together with one of many first guides to share previous anecdotes whereas showcasing William Krisel’s Home of Tomorrow, the Kaufmann Desert Home, Donald Wexler & Richard Harrison’s Metal Growth, amongst others. Newer speciality excursions embody a deep dive into the haunts and houses the place Sinatra and his Rat Pack entourage used to stay and standard hangouts they’d frequent the place you possibly can image them swirling martinis in fits.
Returning this 12 months are additionally fan-favourite excursions of the historic Annenberg Property and gardens at Sunnylands, Frey Home II, excursions of the historic Temple Isaiah, and plenty of Palm Springs Historic Society Strolling Excursions together with the Fashionable Backyard Tour.
Frank Sinatra Twin Palms Property Tour
(Picture credit score: John Lewis Marshall)
Occasions and screenings
This 12 months’s keynote speaker of the pageant, Dr Raymond Neutra of Survival By way of Design, preserves the legacy of Richard Neutra, his father, to assist analysis and design that advantages the planet.
Howard Smith was the one Black artist recognised in post-war Scandinavian modernism and he’s explored throughout Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 by a devoted occasion. He collaborated with main design companies in the course of the Chilly Battle in Finland, and life and legacy, alongside along with his work in textile design, ceramics and work shall be celebrated in the course of the ‘Rediscovering a misplaced Black Modernist’ speak.
Rudolph M. Schindler buffs can benefit from the screening ‘Schindler Area Architect,’ a brand new documentary narrated by Meryl Streep, that dives into the work, life, and legacy of the pioneer of Californian’s indoor-outdoor dwelling way of life. The movie options insights from different well-known architects reminiscent of Frank Gehry.
Modernism Week Featured Dwelling Tour: Sackley Chase Sensation
(Picture credit score: Sackley Chase Sensation)
The place to social gathering
Serving to to kick off the occasion, an ‘opening evening extravaganza’, shall be held on the Palm Springs Air Museum, that includes a retro-show with music from Sinatra to The Beatles and Elvis.
In celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the home architect Donald Wexler designed for his household in 1955, a number of private images, residence motion pictures, and memorabilia shall be shared for the primary time by Wexler’s three sons, together with an unique sundown reception on 15 February.
On Valentine’s Day, 14 February, you possibly can discover William Krisel’s midcentury masterpiece, and luxuriate in six fantastically preserved properties on the Sandpiper Circle 3 tour, adopted by a cocktail social gathering with DJ Modgirl’s retro beats. Visitors can even tour The Lautner Compound – a group of 4 boutique properties in-built 1947 and reimagined as ‘The Lautner’ in 2012 after a five-year renovation venture. The situation will even host a ‘twilight reception’ with cocktails and nibbles.
Should you want any furnishings, artwork, or classic equipment, reminiscent of jewelry, to go along with your midcentury dwelling or social gathering vibe, The Palm Springs Modernism Present will rejoice its twenty fifth anniversary throughout Modernism Week with a report variety of 135 sellers on present. These will span native and worldwide choices, promoting Twentieth-century and Twenty first-century designs on the Palm Springs Conference Heart with a gap preview social gathering on 14 February the place everybody will don their greatest classic outfits.
Desert Modernism 101: From Bauhaus to Our Home
(Picture credit score: From Bauhaus to Our Home)
