Desert Architecture Festival Kicks Off in Palm Springs 2025: Time for a Celebration of Modern Design

Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025: A Celebration of Mid-Century Architecture and Design

Get ready for an 11-day extravaganza of architecture, art, interior design, and vintage culture as Palm Springs Modernism Week returns from 13-23 February in Greater Palm Springs, California.

This year's event promises to be bigger and better, with over 500 events and tours showcasing the best of mid-century modernism. One of the new additions is the 1923 Spanish Revival King Gillette Estate tour in Mesa, fully restored by Bill Stewart of Stewart|Mohr Designs.

The festival will kick off with an 'opening night extravaganza' at the Palm Springs Air Museum, featuring a retro-show with music from Sinatra to The Beatles and Elvis. The event will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Palm Springs Modernism Show, with a record number of 135 dealers selling 20th-century and 21st-century designs at the Palm Springs Convention Center. An opening preview party on 14 February will encourage everyone to wear their best vintage outfits.

In addition to the tours in Palm Springs, there will be tours in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and Joshua Tree. One of the featured homes this year is Albert Frey's 1954 The West House in Old Las Palmas, remodelled by Michelle Boudreau Design, previously owned by actor Adam West of Batman fame with a few quirky nods to the 'batcave'.

Iconic dwellings on home tours include those designed by Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Albert Frey, William Cody, William Krisel, and Donald Wexler. Sackley Chase, designed by Stan Sackley in 1976 and decorated by interior designer Steve Chase, will host the 'Saturday Night Soirée' on 15 February with cocktails and gourmet treats by local favourite eatery Trio.

The film 'Schindler Space Architect', narrated by Meryl Streep, will be screened during the festival, diving into the work, life, and legacy of Rudolph M. Schindler, pioneer of Californian's indoor-outdoor living lifestyle.

A dedicated event during Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 explores the life and legacy of Howard Smith, the only Black artist recognized in post-war Scandinavian modernism. The Howard Hughes 1957 residence by Araby Cove, featuring floating staircases and walls of glass with an expansive view of the Coachella Valley, will also be on the tour.

For those interested in learning more, Vossler Smith recommends the symposium by the Palm Springs School of Desert Modernism, Palm Springs Art Museum, and Palm Springs Architectural Alliance with a self-driving home tour of five significant homes. Dr Raymond Neutra of Survival Through Design will be the keynote speaker of the festival, preserving the legacy of Richard Neutra.

Open-air double-decker bus tours are back for Modernism Week 2025, showcasing architectural offerings in different neighbourhoods and downtown commercial buildings, including William Krisel's House of Tomorrow, the Kaufmann Desert House, Donald Wexler & Richard Harrison's Steel Development, among others.

New neighbourhoods on tour routes include Canyon Springs, Coco Cabana, Canyon Colony West, and Vista Canyon. New this year on the PS ModCom Iconic Home Tour are the Griffing and Goldberg residences in the Southridge estates. Frank Lloyd Wright's Joshua Tree Retreat Center will showcase a site presentation with architectural experts and a self-guided walking tour.

Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 promises to be an unforgettable celebration of mid-century modernism. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the rich architectural heritage of Palm Springs and its surrounding areas.