Design By Chance - Palm Springs

November 08, 2017

Design By Chance - Palm Springs

On to our next day of Design By chance, thru Instagram, we learn that the Modernism Week Fall Preview Show is happening in Palm Springs this weekend! What a stroke of luck...so up early and on the 10, in 2 short hours we pull into Palm Springs to soak up everything modern from houses and landscapes to lighting and art.


Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale

The Fall Preview includes a selection of the popular events from Modernism Week that is celebrated every February. These events include Architectural Tours, walking tours, the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale (which has great furniture, accessories and art) and the Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours. This was our first time at the Fall Preview and we had a great time.


Amazing artwork at the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale


Mid Century Modern furniture at the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale


Architecture at the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale

We find out that the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center is now open. This classic E. Stewart Williams’s building was previously a Savings and Loan building. Recently renovated by Los Angeles architects Marmol Radziner, who are known for their restoration of the well known Kaufmann House, the building is striking with its glass pavilion. The firm based its restoration on photographs of the building taken by famed photographer Julius Shulman along with Williams’ original drawings.


Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center


Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center

“We rehabilitated the 1960 Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan building, to create a new satellite exhibition space for the Palm Springs Art Museum. Designated as a Class I Historic Site by the Palm Springs City Council in 2009, this classic Mid-Century International Style structure originally designed by E. Stewart Williams, is now devoted to architecture and design exhibitions.” – Marmol Radziner

The museum reopened in 2014. One of the delights is the museum gift shop which is partially located in the bank vault. The museum is currently showcasing a show featuring Albert Frey and Lina Bo Bardi: A Search for Living Architecture. This shows runs through January 7, 2018.


The vault in the Gift Shop in the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center (pic from Marmol Radziner website)


Beautiful Artwork at the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center Gift Shop

Change is happening. A trip down Palm Springs main street, North Palm Canyon Drive, demonstrates the large projects that are being built. New hotels and developments are underway that will forever change it, in a good way, I think.
After a quick lunch at Jakes, we visit a few modernist galleries and then end at our friends at Pelago. If anyone plans a trip to Palm Springs, please visit this beautiful modernist shop. They just moved into a much larger space on Main St. They showcase a carefully curated collection of all things modern from eye glasses and jewellery to lighting and furniture. It is a delight to shop in.


Pelago Palm Springs (pic by Pelago Palm Springs)


Pelago Palm Springs (pic by Pelago Palm Springs)


Pelago Palm Springs


Beautiful sculpture in Palm Springs


The Kaufmann House - Palm Springs by Marmol Radziner
(Pic from Marmol Radziner website)

We say good bye, then back on the 10 to Santa Monica where I am trying to get at least an hour at the best architecture and design bookstore in the world, Hennessey + Ingalls. Two hours later after experiencing the glorious sunset on Ocean Boulevard, we turn onto Wilshire Boulevard where the book store has been for many years...only to find a big FOR LEASE sign in the window. How disappointing!


Beautiful sunset at the Santa Monica Pier


Beautiful sunset over the ocean in Santa Monica

 

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