CULTURAL OASIS

Palm Springs is one of those classic Californian destinations that exists in our imagination long before we set foot on its asphalt; I believe I’ve dreamed of holidaying in Palm Springs since I was approximately eight years old. The name “Palm Springs” alone evokes swaying palm trees, poolside cocktails, decadent dinners, sunshine-on-tap, the strains of Sinatra. These things, Palm Springs has been delivering for decades. Less embedded in the imaginations of travellers, however, is Palm Springs’s gentle metamorphosis from a pleasure-seeker’s paradise into a cultural hotspot dedicated to 20th century art, architecture and design.

I’m here for Palm Springs Modernism Week, an annual celebration of the city’s mid-century architecture, design and art. This February event of open house tours, double-decker bus tours, heritage walks, exhibitions and concerts is a broad church, attracting everyone from academics and preservationists to fashion influencers and die-hard fans of . It’s the open homes that are the big draw; for 10 days, visitors have the chance to mill around