Modernism Week: Palm Springs
After over 20 years of visiting Palm Springs in March and April for spring break with our kids, and post-tax season with my parents, we were there in February just in time for Modernism Week. While we’d heard of Modernism Week, we’d never attended and only recently learned that there are two Modernism Week events in the Palm Springs area. One in February and the other in October.
The February event lasts 11 days and has about 120,000 attendees each year that participate in over 350 events.
The first event was a Modernism Weekend in February 2006 to showcase the midcentury modern architecture of Palm Springs. It has since expanded to focus on midcentury modern design, architecture, art, fashion, and culture in Greater Palm Springs and the proceeds benefit various non-profit organizations including the Modernism Week 501(c)(3).
I signed up for the email list and was completely overwhelmed by the number of tours, talks, cocktail parties, and gallery openings. Each day there were at least 40-50 events to choose from, more than any one person could attend.
Designer Staci Munic’s home in Palm Springs, California
To make it easy, we decided to support our tennis friend Staci with her open house and cocktail party and a six-house tour in Sunmor Estates, not far from where we stayed, although each time I saw the doubledecker midcentury tour bus, and groups of people on walking tours, I wanted to add to our dancecard.
We really enjoyed our self guided walking tour of Sunmor Estates. The neighborhood was established in 1955 by developers AR Smith and Merill Brown in an area that was part of the Palm Springs Army Airfield in World War 2. There are 141 homes on 214 acres, mostly built between 1955 and 1960.
It was called Sunmor because the homes receive one more hour of sun than homes closer to the San Jacinto Mountain range. The goal for the neighborhood was to provide affordable modernist tract homes that had two, three or four bedrooms not unlike the Eichler neighborhoods in our area.
Even though only six houses were on the tour, we enjoyed walking around and seeing the neighborhood. Since we live in a midcentury house, we are often looking for inspiration for our home, both inside and out.
The homes we saw were originally designed by famed architects William Krisel or Wexler & Harrison and built by Alexander Construction Company, Robert C Higgins, or Smith & Rappaport but have all been remodeled and updated since the original construction between 1955 and 1962.
Lucky Palm, Sunmor Estates
Harlequin Butterfly, Sunmor Estates
Crown Jewel, Sunmor Estates
Mor Sun, Mor Fun, Sunmor Estates
Well Hello There, Sunmor Estates
Liv Mor, Sunmor Estates
We’ve shared more pictures and videos in the video Poolside Soirees and Midcentury Madness on our Zeke and Terri YouTube channel.
After spending the month of February 2024 in Palm Springs, we look forward to spending October there as well. Since Modernism Week, fall edition, occurs in October, we are planning to attend more events and tours and experience what is considered the kickoff to the season in Palm Springs.
Reader / Viewer Suggestions
After posting the video, we received a few viewer suggestions that we wanted to share.
From @fostrapp,: “I think Sunnylands is a must see! Also snag the bus tour with Charles Phoenix if possible. Then I would add an open home tour in Vista Las Palmas and any neighborhood tour, preferably South Palm Springs (Canyon Vista Estates, Indian Canyons), also the show at the convention center!”
Have you been? Is there a tour or an event we should attend in October? Drop us a line at zekeandterri@gmail.com and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.