The Renaissance And Evolution Of Desert Modern Housing

New housing developments in the Palm Springs desert capitalize on Modernist styles popularized in the 1950s, while adding newer sustainable touches.

1 minute read

May 5, 2004, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"he renaissance of Modernist housing, which cognoscenti like to call Desert Modern, reflects several factors. The growing population of year-round residents has kept up the demand for new housing in a city that historically has been a winter resort. And many design-conscious buyers are seeking an alternative to the Spanish and Mediterranean homes blanketing much of Southern California... An even greater contrast, the new Desert Modern housing is high-density and urban, unlike the suburban Alexander tracts. Nearly all the older housing is single-story and low-lying, emphasizing the horizontal."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

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