| Msgr. Patrick S. Brennan |
|
Palm Springs is a unique town with a population of about 45,000, and a beautiful resort in the California Coachella Valley. For lovers of "midcentury architecture," Palm Springs is a sort of Mecca. From the 1940s to the 1960s, the architectural style called "modernism" (see the house to the left) took root and developed. "Desert Modern," as it is sometimes called, was an architectural style featuring open-design plans ("less is more"), air-conditioning, large sliding glass doors, swimming pools, and often clerestory windows, fully merging the inside with the outside. All of this is to say that it took advantage of, and loved, the sunny desert environment.
Every February the city celebrates its architecture with walking and bus tours, home visits, and lectures. I was lucky enough to attend, and I came away convinced that the whole town and all of its neighborhoods need to be preserved and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Palm Springs, aside from being a popular resort, is a national treasure.