Join SAH/SCC for a
talk with the renowned author Alan Hess on his new book, The Palm Springs
School: Desert Modernism 1934-1975 (Rizzoli, 2025).
Much more than a resort destination, Palm Springs
has served as a laboratory of the Modern, where so much architectural
innovation and design took form. From the steel-and-glass boxes of Richard
Neutra, FAIA, to the earthy organic homes of John Lautner, FAIA, and everything
in between, the solutions of architects and designers—including notably William
F. Cody, FAIA, E. Stewart Williams, FAIA, and Albert Frey, FAIA—were diverse
and are ever more relevant in the face of contemporary challenges.
These
architects addressed questions that still hold urgency: How to design
sustainably in harsh climates? How to use technology efficiently and creatively
to meet those challenges? How to build affordable and high-quality
mass-produced housing? How to reflect a region’s culture, economy, and
distinctive atmosphere?
The
book establishes the definitive record regarding the specific contributing
factors in the development of the Palm Springs School and adds powerful new
insights about desert architecture.
Hess is an American
architect, author, lecturer, and advocate for 20th-Century architectural
preservation. This is his 22nd book on the built environment.
Hess
on The Palm Springs School—Sunday, May 25, 2025; 1-2:30 PM Pacific; $5. Go to www.sahscc.org and pay via PayPal; or
mail in order form on Page 6 with check; Zoom link sent upon registration.
NOTE: Included is a link to the recording to view at your leisure.
