Desert Modernism, the Artistic Luxury of Living in the Desert

Who would want to live in the desert? Sand, heat... However, the Desert Modernism architectural style offers homes that blend with the landscape, and through materials and the layout of elements, a cool atmosphere is achieved while remaining in constant contact with nature, making you think: "maybe living in the desert isn't such a bad idea."

Desert Modernism is not a new trend. In fact, it emerged in the 1930s, and during the heyday of Hollywood, stars hid away in their residences in Palm Springs. This city became the epicenter of this architectural style, which, with its glass walls and native stone, hosted celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Priscilla, and Frank Sinatra. The latter asked E. Stewart Williams for a Georgian-style mansion with a brick facade, but when the architect showed him an alternative design inspired by Desert Modernism, he was amazed and went for the second option. The Twin Palms house has become a landmark of this architectural movement and is open for visits, even available for rental!

Architect Josep Maria Lapeyra explains that the basis of Desert Modernism is to create a home that merges with the landscape and adapts to the climate of the desert. The architectural movement is characterized by low ceilings, large glass panels, and colors and materials that integrate the building with nature.

"These homes are designed to function," says the architect. Lapeyra describes the structure of the buildings: "The metal structure is lightweight, but it plays with local stone to connect the house with the landscape." He also adds that glass creates a visual continuity effect to simulate contact with the outdoors. He emphasizes the importance of being able to open and close windows to create airflow, thus avoiding the need for air conditioning.

Architect Núria Amat explains that the use of different materials for walls has been trending for years, meaning instead of designing a wall of one opaque material with a window, entire glass walls are alternated with walls of other materials. The architect highlights that although Desert Modernism is abundant in glass walls, it is important to create extended porches that cast shade over this material. If the sun shines directly on the glass, a greenhouse effect is created, making it impossible to live inside the house due to the heat.

Amat classifies Desert Modernism within the Modern movement (and insists it should not be confused with the Modernist movement). The style that has captured Palm Springs has similarities with other buildings around the world, as representatives of the Modern movement, like Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, or Mies van der Rohe, have shared their art in other cities. For this reason, the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona resembles the iconic houses of California.

In February and October each year, Modernism Week is celebrated in Palm Springs, honoring the architecture of the past century through events like tours or shows that take participants deep into the stories behind each building.

Iconic buildings open their doors so visitors can enjoy the art, for example, the iconic Palm Springs City Hall. It was built by Albert Frey in 1952 with the help of architects like E. Stewart Williams (who designed Frank Sinatra's house), Robson Chambers, and John Porter Clark.

Although the primary goal of Modernism Week is to educate about the architectural style, fun plays a leading role. For this reason, besides guided tours and talks, night parties, concerts, and original shows are also organized for all tastes. The variety of themes is undeniable. For example, for automobile fans, there are showcases of classic cars; and synchronized swimming shows are even organized in iconic Desert Modernism houses, such as at the Twin Frank Sinatra Estate.

Desert Modernism allows you to appreciate the beauty of the desert in a fresh environment while connected to nature, and personalities from the worlds of music and acting have already fallen in love with it. And you, would you live in the desert without air conditioning?