Five Palm Springs Modernist Favorites

Curated Mid-Century Modern Home Listings 📍

A two hour cruise from L.A., just past the San Jacinto mountains, you’ll find the charming desert resort town of Palm Springs. Starting in the 1920’s, the area began to transform from overlooked desert community to hip Hollywood getaway. Over the coming years, dozens of luxurious new hotels, tennis clubs, restaurants, and golf courses would spring up. In the war years, demand for domestic getaways surged as European travel was unavailable. Stars with last names like Monroe, Sinatra, and Presley began to frequent Palm Springs, as did a talented group of artists, designers, and architects.

The post-war demand for housing ushered in a new era of growth as both affordable mass housing and custom luxury homes were built across the greater Palm Springs area. Modernist standouts like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, Bill Cody, E. Stewart Williams, William Krisel, and Donald Wexler all completed projects during the era. Today, Palm Spring’s modernist history is well appreciated through programs like Modernism Week. Read on as we take a mini tour through five quintessential Palm Springs icons.

Palm Springs City Hall (1952) - Albert Frey

Photo by Darren Bradley

Kaufmann Desert House (1946) - Richard Neutra

Photo by Dan Solomon

Steel Development Houses (1962) - Donald Wexler

Photo by Dan Chavkin

Edris House (1954) - E. Stewart Williams

Photo by Lance Gerber

House of Tomorrow (1960) - William Krisel

Photo by Chris Miller

GEMS FOR SALE THIS WEEK

1266 Dunning Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

32 Sea Cove Dr, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

3095 Hollyridge Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

5457 La Forest Dr, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011

1276 N Rose Ave, Palm Springs, CA 92262

2370 E Finley Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

2093 S Calle Palo Fierro, Palm Springs, CA 92264

722 E Chuckwalla Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

82139 Bliss Ave, Indio, CA 92201

115 Danube Dr, Aptos, CA 95003

3452 Thomas Dr, Palo Alto, CA 94303

4175 Wilkie Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306

44 Roosevelt Cir, Palo Alto, CA 94306

6425 S Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA 95831

3534 E Via Estrella, Phoenix, AZ 85028

1711 E Missouri Ave UNIT 3, Phoenix, AZ 85016

1115 E 3rd Pl, Mesa, AZ 85203

650 Dexter Street, Denver, CO 80220

21 Berkley Ave, Linwood, NJ 08221