Modernism Week has announced the exciting schedule for its highly anticipated February festival, celebrating midcentury and modern architecture, art, design, and vintage culture in the Palm Springs area of Southern California. Running for 11 days, from Thursday, February 12 to Sunday, February 22, the event offers more than 450 unique experiences open to the public. The full event schedule is available for preview on the website now, with tickets going on sale November 1 at 12 pm PDT at modernismweek.com.
“Our diverse range of exciting programs offers something for everyone and every price point,” said Lisa Vossler Smith, CEO of Modernism Week. The festival’s mission also emphasizes preservation, with Chairman William Kopelk noting that “Preservation of architectural heritage is one of the cornerstones of Modernism Week’s mission.”
Featured Home & Neighborhood Tours
The festival showcases an extensive selection of home and neighborhood tours, providing rare access to design masterpieces.
Featured Home Tours
This year highlights two exclusive Featured Home Tours:
- Soleil House: A once-neglected 1963 home completely reimagined by designer Trina Turk, blending midcentury charm with modern comfort and utilizing bold colors. A Sunset Cocktail Reception with designer Trina Turk is offered on Sunday, February 15.
- The Marquee at Twin Palms: A 1957 midcentury modern home in a celebrated neighborhood, recently reimagined by H3K Home + Design, featuring sleek lines, warm textures, and signature post-and-beam architecture. The home will also host the Starlight Soirée: Saturday Night at The Marquee at Twin Palms on Saturday, February 14.
Signature & Exclusive Tours
Signature tours showcase the best of Desert Modernism:
- Signature Home Tour: Morning and Afternoon Tour (Sunday, February 15 and Sunday, February 22)
- Palm Desert Signature Home Tour (Tuesday, February 17)
- The La Quinta Country Club Signature Home Tour (Wednesday, February 19), an exclusive first-ever tour with golf cart transportation and a post-tour reception.
- Rare Home Access includes garden tours of the legendary Kaufmann Residence (Richard Neutra, 1946), and interior tours of Edris House (E. Stewart Williams, 1954), William Holden Estate (Joe Pawling, 1955), Frank Sinatra’s “Twin Palms” Estate (E. Stewart Williams, 1947), and the James Logan Abernathy Residence (William F. Cody, 1962).
Neighborhood Tours
The festival will feature 15 neighborhood tours (including five new ones) in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells, enabling guests to explore unique areas and view stunning home interiors not normally open to the public. New tours include:
- Alta Revealed–Contemporary Desert Living Home Tour (Monday, February 16)
- Andreas Hills II Neighborhood Home Tour (Friday, February 21)
- Casa Dorado at Indian Wells Home and Neighborhood Tour (Saturday, February 15)
- Discover the Midcentury Marvel of Firebird Estates (Friday, February 21)
- Tour With the Author: Unseen Midcentury Desert Modern with Daniel Chavkin (Tuesday, February 17)
Architectural Bus Tours
A highly popular way to experience the architecture is via bus tours:
- Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tour (running February 12–22), a 2.5-hour open-air overview of significant civic, commercial, and residential properties.
- Other tours include the Charles Phoenix Super Duper Double Decker Bus Tour, Bella da Ball’s Celebrity Homes Bus Tour, the Illuminated Twilight Bus Tour, and Sinatra’s Rat Pack Homes & Hangouts Bus Tour.
Parties and Special Events
Evening events provide vintage glamour and fun:
- Modernism Week Opening Night Party: Modernist Motown (Wednesday, February 12).
- Preview Party for the Palm Springs Modernism Show (Thursday, February 13), offering the first chance to shop the show.
- A Night of Sparkle: Cocktails at Piazza di Liberace (Wednesday, February 19), featuring a Liberace look-alike and live piano entertainment.
- The Hidden Estate: Enjoy a Night of Vintage Glamour at the Clark Gable & Carole Lombard Estate (Wednesday, February 19).
- Vintage Trailer Show (Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22), showcasing a large, curated collection of vintage campers and motor homes.
Talks and Education
Nearly 80 talks, films, and panel discussions will be presented, offering educational insights:
- World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize Ceremony (Wednesday, February 18), being held outside of New York City for the first time.
- A special celebration for long-time Palm Springs resident and “First Lady of Modernism Week,” Nelda Linsk, including a free Walk-Of-Stars Rededication (Wednesday, February 12), and a screening of the film Poolside Gossip, More Than a Photograph (Friday, February 21).
- Modernism and the Future of Housing: A Symposium (Saturday, February 21), presented by the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Palm Springs Architectural Alliance.
- Talks on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architecture and Conserving Modernist Architecture in Africa are also featured.