February 16-26, 2017
by Margaret Meyer, CEK Adviser, Belleville Historical Society

The MidCentury Modern movement is gaining momentum across the country. Probably the premier event for those interested in re-discovering a distinctly American art and architecture style is Modernism Week Palm Springs. I recently had the chance to experience this international event first-hand.

The Mission of Modernism Week is to celebrate and foster appreciation of architecture and design, as well as contemporary thinking in these fields, by encouraging education, preservation and sustainable modern living as represented in the greater Palm Springs area.

Approximately 75,000 people from throughout the United States, Europe and as far away as New Zealand attended for at least a part of the ten day event.  On average there were 30 different activities each day ranging from the ever popular tour of Sunnylands, the Annenberg Estate and retreat for many Presidents, Eisenhower thru Obama , double decker bus tours, home tours, walking tours, movies and lectures all regarding MidCentury Architects and Architecture. It is impressive to see so many interested in MidCentury Architecture and validates for me that Belleville Historical Society’s MidCentury Modern Architecture Museum featuring the work of Charles E. King is the right thing at the right time.

I toured 10 homes, eight of which were in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood, established in 1920 by Alvah Hicks. Two homes of his were on this tour.  Old Las Palmas is home to many celebrities.  Homes which were once owned by Mary Martin, Liberace, and a home designed for Howard Hughes were on this tour.   These homes were built between 1920 and 1957.  The two homes built in the 50’s had design features very reminiscent of the work of King.

I had the opportunity to tour the retrospective of William F. Cody, FAIA, 1916-1978.  He established his own firm in Palm Springs 1946 and was one of Palm Springs most prolific architects in his short life.  As a contemporary of King, they shared a very similar vision and path in architecture, designing residential, commercial and religious structures.  They had a similar work ethic as well, both returning to the office at night and expecting the draftsman to do the same.  I did tour the Abernathy house which he designed in 1962, a pavilion style house with walls of windows looking out onto magnificent views of the mountains.  Many of the design features can be found in King designs as well.

The most interesting house that I toured was Frey House II (pictured above).  Albert Frey was born in Switzerland 1903, received his architectural degree in 1924,  moved to Paris 1928 and worked for Le Corbusier for one year and on to New York in 1930 to study the new developments in American technology and modern building practices.  By 1934 he brought these ideas to Palm Springs designing in the International Style.  Like King, he designed hospitals, schools, private homes and offices.  Frey also designed a “hanging table” similar to the one found in the Huntley house designed by King in 1952!  Frey House II was his home from 1963 until his death in 1998, built high in the mountains, 800 square ft.  It was the highest house in Palm Springs until Bob Hope’s house was designed by John Lautner.  Built with glass walls, for expansive views, the house feels far more spacious than the square footage would suggest.  Everything built in, much like a ship or trailer, it contains all amenities needed with a huge boulder serving as the room divider!

Modernism Week was a great adventure of MidCentury architecture in the desert.