A breezy two-hour drive from Los Angeles, this event is the pinnacle for anyone passionate about Modern design and architecture. Driving around Palm Springs (and of course we drive, as it is LA) felt like entering the the 1950’s America.
Image above: The Kaufmann House (design by Richard Neutra) in Palm Springs
Post World War Two, many European emigrees made Palm Springs their home, and with it’s expansive landscape and dessert, the city became a haven for the Modern movement. The European designers using the space to break away from traditional styles ultimately attracting Hollywood celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley who wanted to escape the city lights and attention in Los Angeles.
A highlight for me this year was, for the first time, I stopped by the (re-imagined) honeymoon house of Elvis and Priscilla Presley – Danish design included!
The desert setting provided a blank canvas for experimentation, creating a landscape dotted with iconic modernist structures. The cross-polination of experimentation, recent European influences and the expansive landscape resulted in a distinct architectural language, and some of the most celebrated buildings in the US.
Furnishing the homes were icons of the European Modernists, and pieces from the Danish Modern designers regularly featured in the newly built homes. The CH07 from Carl Hansen, designed by Hans J Wegner can be seen within the home famous for hosting Elvis Presley’s honeymoon.
For anyone visiting Palm Spring’s during Modernism Week, the various vintage furniture stores are a mecca for Mid-Century Modern enthusiasts – and not to mention, a sustainable way to shop.
Exploring Palm Springs during Modernism Week is a truly unique experience that takes you back in time to the celebrated period. There is no doubt that I will be back next year.
