With more than 500 events over 11 days, Modernism Week 2025 will soon transform Palm Springs into a celebration of midcentury modern architecture and design. Now in its 20th anniversary, the festival (Feb. 13-23) will feature exclusive home tours, insightful panel discussions, and signature bus tours, all offering an in-depth look at Desert Modernism, the architectural movement that shaped this iconic destination into a global hub for modernist design.
Go Inside Iconic Homes
At the heart of Modernism Week are exclusive home tours offering rare access to some of Palm Springs’ most significant modernist residences and buildings. This year, the featured home tours highlight two stunning properties that embody the evolution of midcentury and contemporary modernism:
The West House (Feb. 14-17 and Feb. 21-23): Originally owned by actor Adam West, best known for his role as Batman, this 1954 home has been reimagined by designer Michelle Boudreau. The renovation maintains the home's midcentury integrity while incorporating contemporary elements, all in homage to Palm Springs modernist master Albert Frey.
Sackley Chase Sensation (Feb. 14-17 and Feb. 21-23): A 1976 home by Stan Sackley, this property reflects the elegance of late modernism, enhanced by a Steve Chase-designed interior. Recent updates have preserved the home's original Brutalist-inspired details, such as travertine floors and expansive glass walls, which frame breathtaking views of Indian Canyons Golf Course.
For a broader view of modernist design, attendees can explore the Signature Home Tour (Feb. 16 and 23), a carefully curated selection of interiors from the Palm Springs School of Architecture. This tour will feature works by William Krisel, Donald Wexler, and other icons of midcentury modern design, showcasing both preserved and updated interpretations of Desert Modernism.
These tours not only serve as a live classroom to study the nuances of modernist design but also highlight how these vintage aesthetics can be seamlessly integrated into contemporary projects.
Other Key Events
This year, Modernism Week will solidify Palm Springs Desert Modernism as a distinct architectural movement with the Palm Springs School Symposium (Feb. 22). Hosted by the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Palm Springs Architectural Alliance, the event will feature a keynote by architect and historian Alan Hess (author of The Palm Springs School: Desert Modernism 1934-1975), who is also part of the. Discussions by architectural historians and preservationists will include topics such as the evolution of resort architecture in the U.S., the role of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in shaping Palm Springs, and the importance of historic preservation in maintaining Palm Springs as an architectural mecca.
Also don't miss Capturing California Modernism: Photography and the Rise of an Iconic Architectural Style, a thought-provoking panel moderated by ARCHITECT Editor-in-Chief Paul Makovsky. Taking place on February 20 and presented by Marvin, the discussion will examine the origins, evolution, and contemporary influence of California Modernism—an architectural style that seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor living with effortless luxury. Featuring Alan Hess, photographer Douglas Friedman, and realtor and author Chris Menrad, the panel will explore how photography has shaped the public perception of California Modernism in both design publications and the real estate market.
A self-driving home tour will follow, offering access to five rarely seen modernist homes featured in Hess’s upcoming book, The Palm Springs School - Desert Modernism: 1934-1975 (Rizzoli, 2025).
Another standout program this year is Honoring a Local Legacy: Midcentury Modern Inspiration at Cotino (Feb. 17), where Disney Imagineers and Pixar artists will discuss how the modernist aesthetic of Palm Springs inspired the architecture in Incredibles 2 and its real-life counterpart, Parr House, currently under construction in the Cotino community.
Modernism Week’s Stories Untold series continues its mission of highlighting architects and designers who have been historically overlooked. This year’s lineup includes Howard Smith: Rediscovering a Lost Black Modernist (Feb. 17), a look at the only Black artist recognized in post-war Scandinavian modernism, whose textile and ceramic designs remain largely unknown in the U.S.
For a highly personal side of midcentury design, An Evening with the Daughters of Design (Feb. 18) will bring together the descendants of Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames, and Harry Bertoia. Susan Saarinen, Carla (Eames) Hartman, and Celia Bertoia will share stories, family photos, and memorabilia, bringing to life a unique perspective on the legacies of their iconic fathers.
For more information and tickets, visit https://modernismweek.com/2025/
