I’m proud to be sponsoring Modernism Week again this year for 2011. This year’s schedule has just been announced. I’ll be hosting another booth at the Show on Saturday and Sunday with the Modern Real Estate Group.

The 6th Annual Palm Springs Modernism Week is poised to take another quantum leap, setting new records for fun and attendance. As word of the annual festival continues to spread, Modernism Week continues to expand its event schedule.

As one of the city’s most successful signature events, Modernism Week is a fun-filled celebration of all things “modern,” defined by a cultural movement between 1940 – 1970 that redefined forms of art, architecture, and design.

Modernism Week, held February 17 – 27, 2011 in various venues throughout the city, will offer modernism aficionados a variety of entertaining, educational and exciting events that will include the Modernism Show, films, architecture tours, swank parties, art exhibitions, music, food and fun. Many events will be offered free to the public.

Each year, a dynamic mix of new events are added while continuing the popular audience favorites. Over 50 events are scheduled for the 2011 Modernism Week. Some highlights of new and continuing events for the 2011 Modernism Week:

NEW: A festive kick-off Celebration, Downtown Palm Springs on Thursday, February 17

NEW: A West Coast Premiere Exhibition of amazing vintage Braniff Airlines uniforms by Fashion Designers Pucci and Halston

NEW: A Design Lecture Series featuring Karim Rashid, Mayer Rus and other nationally-acclaimed designers and tastemakers

NEW: An interior design tour of several fabulous homes

NEW: 2 days of lectures and panel discussions on Modernism Preservation in Chicago, Miami, Australia and Cuba by noted speakers

For more info, click the attached link: Modernism Week 2011

The Modern Real Estate Group in Palm Springs book pick of the week! We saw this posted on wwww.Mid-Century-Modern.net and wanted to share it with our readers:

“Palm Springs Mid-century Modern” by a New York based photographer Dolly Faibyshev features a stunning photographic collection of mid century modern architecture in Palm Springs, California. The book includes 178 color and black/white photos of residential, municipal, and commercial buildings designed by mid century modern architects including Donald Wexler, E. Stewart Williams, William Krisel, Albert Frey, William F. Cody, and Richard Neutra.

Palm Springs Mid-century Modern

The book includes images of many familiar/iconic structures of Palm Springs such as the Kaufmann House, Frey House II, Tramway Gas Station, House of Tomorrow, etc. as well as many other hidden gems that are probably only known to the locals, Palm Springs architecture experts or frequent visitors.

Color or black/white, the images in this book are crisp and stunning. Even though these images were taken at present times, they have a “vintage feel” to them. Ms. Faibyshev also did a great job presenting distinctive architectural features of mid century modern buildings of Palm Springs in all of her images in this book. This book will be a treasure for any mid century modern enthusiast.

Book Summary
Title: Palm Springs Mid-century Modern
Author: Dolly Faibyshev
Format: Hardcover, 128 pages
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. (June 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764334611
ISBN-13: 978-0764334610

A new listing just hit the MLS in Old Las Palmas, one of Palm Spirngs’ premier neighborhoods.

Here’s what the agent has to say about it:

“Wait ’til you see the original features in this mid-century gem: Stone fireplace, incredible tile work in showers, amazing original appliances in the party/pool room kitchen and decorative cement block on perimeter walls! Yes, she needs updating in places (you’ll have a ball picking your favorite foil wallpaper pattern and color), but WOW, what potential! Each bedroom has a private bath (two bedrooms are off the party/pool room wing) and the enormous master has two baths and giant walk-in closet. Located on a corner lot in Old Las Palmas, the L-Shaped home wraps around the pool on 2 sides allowing for uninterrupted mountain views.”

Living Room

Kitchen

Atomic Electric Stove (Covered)

Stove - Open

1960s Jenn-Air logo

Retro Ovens

Unique Bathroom Tile Details

Why don't they make yellow sinks anymore?

Stone inlay detail

Mosaic tile detail

I absolutely LOVE this tile installation!!

Pool and view

Unique decorative masonry wall

Offered at $795,000    Want this retro martini pad for yourself? Please call or text me at 760-285-8559 for a private showing.  Or email me at paulkaplanre@gmail.com for more information.

 Listing courtesy:  Windermere Real Estate 

Check out my new listing in  Palm Springs’ Racquet Club Road Estates, designed by William Krisel, FAIA, built by the Alexander Construction Company

First open house:  Sat. April 24, 12 to 3 PM 
Offered at $430,000

“An Alexander on Alexander” located at 600 E Alexnader Way, Palm Springs

Mid-Century Modern Las Vegas Architecture – Exhibit Opening

(Riviera Hotel Lobby, 1957)

The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is hosting an opening reception for its newest exhibit, “Mid-Century Modern Las Vegas,” on Saturday, April 24 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The exhibit will feature photos of Mid-Century Modern architecture, as well as domestic and decorative art from the era.

Throughout the 1950s and ‘60s when Las Vegas was polishing its image as a premier resort destination, architects from throughout the country were drawn to the city by its free-wheeling, forward-looking modernism. These architects, such as Paul Revere Williams, Palmer and Krisel,

(Paradise Palms, Las Vegas, by Palmer and Krisel)

 Zick and Sharp, Wayne McAllister and Welton Beckett, designed some of Las Vegas’ most notable structures: St. Anne Catholic Church; the parabolic lobby of the La Concha Motel; the sleekly angular Sands Hotel; the futuristic terminal at McCarran International Airport; homes in Mason Manor; and the flying saucer-shaped Las Vegas Convention Center. Dozens of schools, banks, shopping centers, and medical and government buildings throughout Las Vegas were built in a variety of Mid-Century Modern styles.

(La Concha Hotel Lobby under construction, 1961)

Most of the photos featured in this exhibit are from the collection of noted photographer Jay Florian Mitchell. After a successful career in New York, Mitchell came to Las Vegas in the late 1940s and spent more than two decades documenting life in Las Vegas. With most of Las Vegas’ Mid-Century Modern architecture now lost to development, Mitchell’s collection provides an invaluable visual record of the city’s past.

The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is located at 700 Twin Lakes Drive in Lorenzi Park. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and free to museum members and ages 17 and under.

The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is one of seven museums managed by the Division of Museums and History, an agency of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs. The Department serves Nevada’s citizens and visitors through cultural and information management, presentation and promotion of cultural resources, and education. The Department also includes the State Historic Preservation Office, Nevada State Library and Archives, and the Nevada Arts Council. For more information, call Teresa Moiola at (775) 687-8323 or visit the department’s web site at www.NevadaCulture.org.

Reposted from the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs

April 14, 2010
Contact: Stacy Irvin: 702-486-5205 ext. 227
David Millman: 702-486-5205 ext. 231

Below are the latest stats for the Racquet Club Road Estates neighborhood in Palm Springs.   The trend is showing increased inventory however, the prices have been going up over the past 6 months. 

(Median sales price from 10/09 to 1/10 was $280,000.  Median  sales price for the last 3 months was $302,000)

These stats show what’s been going on in the past 3 months:

Total sales:  8

Total active listings:  24

Months considered to take to absorb all the listings:  8.99

Median Sales Price:  $302,000

Median days listing are on the market:  56

Median sales price as a % of list price:  96.25%

For more detailed info, see the chart below.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

Click Here for a list of current listings available in the Racquet Club Road Estates neighborhood and vicinity.

Ran across this in the March Palm Springs Life’s site- (Republished from the August 1964 Issue of Palm Springs Life Magazine),  a series of interviews with architect, William Cody- 

These are some of my favorite “timeless” quotes noted in the article:

“”It is sickening,” he said, “that we are plagued with pseudo  Roman medal-stamp columns, large imitation wine jugs and Grecian villas and neo (and sub-neo)  classic design better fitted for a Hollywood back-lot ‘B’ picture.”

“Architecture must guide the future of our culture, a three-dimensional sculptured concept  conditioned by proportion, the secret of great building. Father to the arts, it embraces man’s  finest endeavors and, since the inception of time, has inspired progress and served to formulate  a better way of life”

 ”Fine architecture is not a product of automation. Great talent in any field is limited to the  very few. Therefore, some of today’s buildings are bad examples of contemporary design. The  demand for talent exceeds the supply. This is unfortunate because it has bred mediocrity. It is  appalling that 80 percent of the buildings constructed in this country are designed without  benefit of architects. The construction industry, largest in the nation, is lagging for behind  the advances in other fields.”

“Good contemporary architecture is a world wide expression, conditioned by the geographic  location, politics and economics of the various countries throughout the world. Here, on the  desert, it should flourish.”

Click here to read the full article on William Cody.

Sunmor Estates Home Tour

Saturday April 17, 2010 10 AM to 1PM

The Sunmor neighborhood consists of a collection of modernist atomic ranch style homes constructed in the late 50′s & 60′s, by the Alexander Construction Company and local builder, Robert Higgins. 

For more Sumor information, click here.

Just got my tickets today!!  I’ve been wanting to see this house since I was a kid, visiting Palm Springs.  Here’s a great opportunity to check it out, and to join the Palm Springs Museum and the Arts and Design Council. 

The Arts and Design Council is holding its anual ADC Fundraiser – (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Saturday, March 20)

This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the spectacular Hope House at a cocktail reception with fellow ADC members. The enormous roof, which echoes the surrounding hills of Southridge, hovers over an expansive patio and garden area where Lautner’s dramatic architecture can be experienced. Invitations will be mailed to ADC members.

Fundraiser
ADC Fundraiser at the Bob & Dolores Hope House, designed by John Lautner
$200 per person (ADC members only)

To make reservations, please call Brooke Devenney at 760.322.4818 or email bdevenney@psmuseum.org

SEE YOU THERE!

Literally one of THE most architecturally significant homes in all the world. Known as The Elrod House, this John Lautner-designed home was commissioned by designer Arthur Elrod in 1968 and has been featured in numerous books, magazines and museum exhibitions. It is the iconic home perched at the very tip of the Southridge enclave, easily viewable throughout Palm Springs. Organic shapes, monumental construction and world class design create an extraordinary experience of space that Lautner himself described as ”timeless” architecture. The 60 ‘ wide circular living room has a conical dome that fans out in nine petals between nine clerestories angled up to bring in light. Retractable curved glass walls open the entire living room and pool terrace to panoramic views of Mt San Jacinto, Mt San Gorgonio and the full sweep of the valley below and mountain ranges beyond. The very rock of the ridge is incorporated into the design thru out the home

Great video from the James Bond classic featuring Thumber and Bambi, highlighting the John Lautner Elrod House in Palm Springs

007 and the Elrod House

Yours to enjoy for $13,890,000