At the end of World War II when the United States troops arrived home triumphantly from abroad, America faced a situation it had not experienced before – a massive lack of housing. Instead of going back to their family homes, these GIs wanted to strike out a new life for themselves in their own homes, creating a sudden demand for affordable single-family dwellings. The GI bill allowed those who served to get easy loans for houses, which, for the first time, needed to be produced en masse to meet the growing demand. Suddenly across America, the new concept of the “suburb” emerged.

 

At this time, a new style of architecture also emerged. The wartime factories that had produced items for the war effort were now churning out peacetime products and technological developments that allowed architects to adopt fantastic new approaches to architecture. The style that emerged is now called midcentury modern, and it was the dominant new design from 1947-1973, with the heyday peaking in the late fifties and early to mid-sixties. Its focus on simplicity, functionality, and the use of modern materials made it easy for builders to quickly, cheaply, and easily create thousands upon thousands of new houses.

 

Midcentury modern architects designed buildings that were not only efficient and utilitarian, but also aesthetically pleasing and in harmony with their surroundings. Unlike houses designed and built in the pre-war period, these innovative midcentury designs focused on function and simplicity and embraced the new materials and construction techniques. Midcentury buildings were characterized by a sense of lightness and a feeling of openness and spaciousness, making them highly sought after by homeowners and commercial clients.

 

These buildings became known for clean lines, geometric shapes, and use of materials like wood, glass, and concrete. They pioneered the use of clerestory windows, a top section of wall that contained windows above eye level which admitted light and afforded views but were situated so high on the wall that they would provide privacy but not cause tremendous sunlight or heat to invade a room.

 

Like much of the country, Palm Springs, California, experienced the growing population boom. With a newfound affluence, Americans flocked to the desert city to construct vacation homes. The plentiful building opportunities attracted an array of innovative architects who capitalized on the area’s pleasant weather by blending inside and outside. Rooms now featured large expanses of glass – never before possible – which made the room feel like it was part of the outside world. Desert homes were specifically designed with outdoor spaces in mind and these exterior spaces were treated as extensions of the interior, with furniture, plants, and other elements that made them feel like cozy, welcoming outdoor rooms.

 

Architects such as Albert Frey, William Krisel, William Cody, and Donald Wexler master planned new communities featuring this new style of architecture. Even big-named architects known for their works in nearby Los Angeles, such as Richard Neutra, A. Quincy Jones, and John Lautner were drawn to the area and designed significant projects in the community.

 

Despite its popularity, midcentury style began to fall out of favor in the 1970s, and these once iconic buildings in Palm Springs started to languish. Fortunately, only a few notable structures were destroyed before the city’s residents began to band together to preserve their treasured buildings. Presently, the city has one of the largest collections of preserved and restored midcentury architecture in the world and is supported by a community that actively works to ensure these midcentury marvels do not disappear.

 

The city has become a favored destination for architectural tourism and regularly attracts people from around the world to marvel at its elegant and sophisticated designs. Tours of carefully preserved and renovated homes and neighborhoods are offered annually during Modernism Week, an annual 11-day festival that highlights midcentury modern architecture, art, interior and landscape design, and vintage culture in Palm Springs each February. Over the last two decades Modernism Week has evolved its programs to meet the growing demand and also now offers a 4-day festival in October. Additionally, it offers custom architecture tours from September through May, the city’s high season.

 

With high-profile popular television and film depictions of the midcentury era (such as “Mad Men,” “A Single Man,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Masel,” and “Don’t Worry Darling”), new audiences are learning about the classic design of midcentury modern architecture, furniture, and accessories and continue to flock to events like Modernism Week to experience this vintage lifestyle in the very buildings where it was born. Festival attendees delight in dressing in vintage attire and attending elegant soireés or attending talks about preservation, design, and culture. As the saying goes, it appears that everything old is new again. Affection for midcentury style is here to stay.

Images courtesty of https://modernismweek.com/