Palm Springs is known as the Mid-Century Modern capital of the world. The Modernism Week non-profit organization has come together to celebrate the unique architecture of the Coachella Valley. The organization also provides charitable scholarships to high school students pursuing college educations in the fields of architecture and design within the community.
Typically, the week is filled with bus tours, films, lectures, nightly parties, classic car exhibits, and more – but like most things in 2021, this week looked a little different. Although a few homes were open for reserved tours, Modernism Week was taken online.
So, if you’ve been thinking about moving to the desert now is your chance to get a feel for our sunny Coachella Valley no matter where you are in the world – all while seeing some of the most iconic homes in history! The Online Experience will be live at modernismweek.com until May 15th, 2021.
One of our favorite experiences this year was taking a private tour of the city from the perspective of the driver’s seat in a 1966 Ford Mustang convertible. It was so fun it made us want to take a stop by the Exotic Motor Cars Dealership on Ramon Road in Palm Springs!
For the history buffs out there, you can also watch rare home footage taken from the 1940s-1970s of important and long-gone desert landmarks. Immersed in the daily life of Palm Springs, we sometimes forget the expansion that the Coachella Valley has undergone over the last two decades. It’s amazing to take a step back in time to reflect on just how far we’ve come!
Lastly, we recommend the virtual tour of H3K Design’s latest renovation of a 1956 Lawrence Lapham property. If you feel inspired after the tour, stop by their storefront on Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. Their interior design work is filled with the bright colors and clean lines that Palm Springs is known for!
If you’ve had enough of sitting at home and are in the greater Palm Springs area, you can always take the self-guided driving tour that begins at the Palm Springs Visitor Center. You’ll get a glimpse of Palm Springs history with property fronts like the 1960 Alexander Construction Company Steel Houses, Kaufmann Desert House, Dinah Shore Estates, and many more!
Or, get your exercise in with a walking or biking tour through Palm Springs to visit the best of its modernist neighborhoods and business districts.
Overall, we were very impressed with how Modernism Week adapted to keep our community safe in 2021 and we highly recommend getting your tickets before it’s too late!
Feeling inspired by all of this Modernism? Many of the properties we represent reflect the Mid-Century Modern feel of Palm Springs. You can view all of our current listings at BradSchmett.com !
Photo Credits: Modernism Week Tours