b'DESTINATION Mid Century ModernEven the common man could buy a slice ofCorbusier-inspired Oasis Building, RobinsonsAdlers makeover included the addition of a Palm Springs cool with the moderately pricedDepartment Store and the two Coachella Valleyhuge two-storey breezeblock entrance and has modernist Alexander House, the iconic designSavings and Loan buildings, and youll find thebeen credited with kickstarting the modernism named after the father-and-son team that builtbest examples of the citys recent rebirththerenovation boom throughout the Palm Springs around 2,500 of them in the area. colourful The Saguaro Palm Springs hotel andhotel industry.These same houses today can fetch well overthe eclectic yet uber-stylish Le Parker MeridienCloser to the city centre and another Holiday US$1million,notbadforasimplemass- Palm Springs. Inngraduate,TheSaguaroPalmSpringsis producedBauhausbungalowthathelpedtodayavibrantandcolourful(14colours shape the mid-century modern style. ACCORDING TO LOCAL REALtobeexact)hotel,sportingaclassic50s Thecity,however,hasntalwaysbeentheESTATE AGENTS, IN THEcantilevered porte-cochre, a series of Barbie mecca of modernism it is today, with PalmDoll dioramas in the foyer and a huge swimming EARLY 1990S YOU COULDpool that hosts some of Palm Springs hottest Springstumblingfromfavourwiththein- pool parties.crowd during the 1980s and 90s. PICK UP A MID-CENTURY Itwas(andstillistosomedegree)knownCLASSIC HOUSE DESIGNEDSince its revival started in earnest in the late asGodswaitingroomduetothelarge1990s, the desert town has come to embrace BY DONALD WEXLER FORand showcase its mid-century pedigreeand population of retirees who flocked there forturn significant tourism dollars in the process.the golf courses and arthritis- friendly warmLESS THAN US$100,000, weather in their twilight years. THE ARCHITECTURALOrganisationssuchasthePalmSprings NovelistSidneySheldononcequippedthatPreservation Foundation, established in 1997 EQUIVALENT OF FINDING Ato educate and promote the citys architecture, the average age of someone who lived in Palmhaveworkedwithotherorganisationsto Springs was deceased. PICASSO AT A GARAGE SALE.establish Modernism Week, an annual drawcard When more affluent resorts and private gatedcelebrating and fostering appreciation of mid-communities started popping up in neighbouringTheoriginalParkeropenedin1959ascentury architecture and design.towns such as Palm Desert and La Qunta inCaliforniasveryfirstHolidayInnandwasIf attending Coachella, a base in Palm Springs is the late 1970s and early 80s, and spring breakpurchased by singing cowboy Gene Autry notnot a bad idea and will give you the opportunity studentslookingforacheap,booze-fuelledlong after in 1961. to explore the city that offers a glimpse into a getaway started descending on the town, Palmbygone era, and if the music festivals really not Springs sunny gloss started to fade. Thepropertyboreahostofownersandyour thing then a visit to the iconic destination According to local real estate agents, in thechangesovertime,includingaperiodasawill offer a classic mid-century modern vibe early 1990s you could pick up a mid-centuryFrench-themed resort affiliated with Givenchyand stunning desert backdrop.classichousedesignedbyDonaldWexlerlabel head Hubert de Givenchy.forlessthanUS$100,000,thearchitecturalIn2003itwaspurchasedbyhotelierJackFor more information visitequivalent of finding a Picasso at a garage sale. Parker, who ordered a US$27 million interiorWWW.VISITPALMSPRINGS.COMThen came the 21st century, when everythingrenovation by designer Jonathan Adler.20th suddenly became cool. PalmSpringscloseproximitytoLAand itsyear-roundsunnyclimate(itsoriginal attractors), coupled with the almost museum-like collection of architecture, caught the eye of the emerging creative class, who started buyinghousesandinfluencingthosewithin their circles to do the same.Type Palm Springs into any real estate website today and youll see mid-century homes selling in the millions.HeadsouthdownPalmSpringsDrive,past classic commercial creations such as the Le URBANDRIVER21'