14 Jan 2014
MODERNISM WEEK COMES TO CALIFORNIA IN FEBRUARY 2014
The Californian city of Palm Springs will be throwing open its mid-century modern doors this February, offering an exciting 11-day schedule of films, parties, talks and tours during Modernism Week. From 13th-23rd February design buffs and retro enthusiasts - or simply those looking for a quirky holiday experience - can celebrate one of the largest concentrations of mid-century modern architecture in the United States and immerse themselves in modern-day history in a city like nowhere else.
A distinctly retro celebration with more than 100 events including architectural design tours and swanky cocktail parties in cool desert modernist homes, Modernism Week pays tribute to the outstanding design, architecture and culture developed during the mid-century modern era in Palm Springs. It is a wonderful time to visit for a unique blast from the past, stepping out of the 21st century and straight into a bygone era with interiors and exteriors preserved just as they were.
Palm Springs' eclectic style is famous for its futuristic buildings of steel, glass and concrete, with open plan designs that embrace the desert landscape. In the past, many of the mid-century modern retreats were owned or rented by 20th-century stars, including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Elvis Presley, and today these legendary homes can be enjoyed by families and friends seeking a truly unique experience.
Much more than just a place to stay, these buildings are true works of art and many have fascinating stories to tell. One iconic building is the Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymoon home, where the King carried his bride over the threshold as he sang a Hawaiian love song.
The new-found interest in desert modernism can be seen everywhere in Palm Springs, from the martini pool parties hosted in hip new hotels to the curvaceous and boldly-coloured 1950s furniture on display at the fabulous interior design boutiques of the Uptown Design District. Many of Palm Springs' boutique hotels are mid-century classics and these retro retreats are quite the attraction for visitors looking to experience desert modernism. Mostly built between the 1940s and 1960s, properties such as the Del Marcos Hotel and Palm Springs Rendezvous boast a distinctive architectural design, hip furnishings, lush landscapes and sparkling pools.
"Our quirky Californian city is packed with the most amazing architectural highlights," comments Mary Jo Ginther, director of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism. "Whether you're a lifelong fan of architectural modernism, curious at what lies behind the doors that once housed famous inhabitants, or just keen to find out more about the fascinating history of 20th-century America, there's no better event than Modernism Week - and no better place than Palm Springs."
In 2006 the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Palm Springs, California as one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the country. In 2009 Palm Springs was designated a Preserve America City.
For more information on Modernism Week, please see: www.modernismweek.com.
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About Palm Springs
One hundred miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a desert playground with year-round sunshine, blue skies and stunning natural beauty. Nestled beneath California's San Jacinto Mountains, the city is famed for its Hollywood legacy, Native American heritage and huge collection of mid-century modern architecture. The desert oasis boasts a wealth of adventurous hiking trails and historical canyon tours, as well as chic boutiques, world-renowned golf courses
and unique experiences, including the chance to stay in the former homes of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.
About Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism
The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism is the city's official destination marketing organisation whose focus is to promote the city to consumers, the media, and domestic and international trade buyers, thus increasing visitor arrivals to the city, and increasing its exposure as a world-class year-round leisure destination. The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism is operated and managed by SMG.
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Press Contact
For media information and images, please contact Sarah Habicht at Hume Whitehead: sarah@humewhitehead.co.uk / 0845 498 9987.
