Modernism Week, the much-anticipated annual celebration of midcentury modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture, kicks off February 15th in Palm Springs. This year’s festival, sponsored by The Agency, features an eclectic lineup of events hosted throughout the modernist design mecca.
More than 350 events, including signature home tours, films, lectures and nightly parties held during the ten-day festival, are envisioned to celebrate and foster an appreciation for the iconic design movement and encourage education, preservation and sustainable modern living.
Among the event’s diverse and dynamic programming is the debut of The Steel & Glass House 2018. The last home Donald Wexler ever designed, the striking residence will be open as one of the week’s marquee home tours. A labor of love for The Agency’s Marc Sanders, who envisioned and developed the modern-day classic post and beam home, Steel & Glass House 2018 will be open to the public six times from February 16th to 25th and feature works of art by Wexler’s son, Glen Wexler, along with Cybele Rowe, Paul Ecke, Jane Burton, Tom Burns and James Shilaimon. Built by Yann Debonne of Hoffman Yann Builders and constructed entirely from steel, the home fuses contemporary architectural vision with modern technology and iconic midcentury design, boasting uninterrupted desert vistas through expansive walls of glass that draw the outdoors in. “A testament to true architectural simplicity, this home elegantly pairs the practicality of Wexler’s design philosophy while showcasing the picturesque desert views of the surrounding mountains,” says Sanders. “It will afford its new owner the very best of desert living and will continue the legacy of Wexler’s design integrity.” Upon completion of Modernism Week, the home will be listed for sale by Marc Sanders and Eric Lavey.
Also included in the programming is a tour of the esteemed Da Vaal Estates—often referred to as the 
Desert-X of midcentury resorts, and the personal residence of The Agency’s Jeff Kohl. Designed by architect Val Powelson in 1960 and built by Robert Marx, son of Gummo Marx, the residences are unlike anything designed for communal living at the time, featuring five X-shaped, single-story buildings, each with four condos clustered around a central pool and gardens. The tour, offered on February 24th only, will explore the community’s distinctive design, including Powelson’s use of cut-away, sharply angled roofs, large overhangs and unique floor plans.
A charitable organization, Modernism Week provides scholarships to local students pursuing higher education in the fields of architecture and design, in addition to supporting local and state preservation organizations and neighborhood groups in their efforts to preserve modernist architecture throughout California. For a complete list of Modernism Week happenings, visit its official website.
