About the mid century modern style
By the middle of the 20th century, Palm Springs had everything it needed to jump start something special within the world of architecture: scores of wealthy Hollywood stars seeking new winter homes in glamorous Palm Springs; inexpensive raw materials; and a collection of world-class modernist architects drawn to a blank canvas on the edge of the California desert.
The mid century style is characterized by the use of honest, modern materials and lack of embellishment on the buildings. As an example, you can see the bare steel I-beams supporting the city hall roof above and the use of glass walls throughout some of the buildings below—many of the architects had to rely on commercial glass suppliers since large-pane glass sheets hadn't yet come to the residential market. Also characteristic in many of the residential homes were the elegant V-shaped and butterfly-shaped roofs, which exemplified the use of clean lines that were emphasized throughout the whole structure.
There are four main neighborhoods within Palm Springs that were created by developers (between 1955 and 1965-ish) who hired modernist architects. By the mid seventies, the style had fallen out of favor and many of the homes started falling into disrepair. Within the past ten years, many enthusiasts have started to realize how many gems are hidden within these neighborhoods, and locals and outside investors alike have started to carefully restore the homes to their original glory.
About this series
I made this series during a two day visit to Palm Springs in March 2018 during the early morning and evening light.
