The 6 Coolest Mid-Century Modern Hotels in Palm Springs

Horizon Hotel exterior Palm Springs

The community of Palm Springs, California boasts one of the highest concentrations of Modernist Architecture in the world, making it a world-famous destination for aficionados of all things Mid-Century Modern. In fact, each February visitors from all over the country flock to Palm Springs to enjoy Modernism Week. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the 6 Coolest Mid-Century Modern hotels in Palm Springs and their characteristics. Perhaps you’ll stay in one of these exceptional masterpieces on your next visit or getaway to Palm Springs.

Before we delve into the hotels themselves, let’s take a look at the characteristics of the Mid-Century Modern style. After the first and second world wars, radically new architectural trends began to emerge in Europe, but the political environment in this region led architects to move to the United States. Their designs, celebrating a simplification of form, emphasized uncluttered lines and technological advancements in materials like steel, poured concrete and sheet glass. By the early 1920s, young architects were bringing these designs to Palm Springs. Often commissioned to create their designs for the wealthy, many of the best examples show a harmonious blend between form and function. Some of the characteristics include post and beam construction to minimize interior support walls, expansive exterior walls of glass with clerestory windows above, concrete floors indoors, decorative gravel ground coverings outdoors, warm colors such as muted orange and turquoise, and a minimalist approach to furniture. Continue reading “The 6 Coolest Mid-Century Modern Hotels in Palm Springs”