Modernism in the American Desert · Alan Hess · Keynote 

Event Details

Part of the Modernism in the American Desert symposium, this talk explores how architects and designers shaped a distinctive vision of modern architecture in the arid landscapes of the American West. Through climate, light, materials and technology, the desert became both inspiration and laboratory for innovation—revealing how Modernism took root and flourished across the region. 

Alan Hess

Alan Hess is a nationally recognized architect, historian and has written twenty-two books on Modern architecture, including his newest book The Palm Springs School 1934-1975. Alan Hess has written monographs on architects Oscar Niemeyer, Frank Lloyd Wright, and John Lautner, as well as architectural histories of Las Vegas and Palm Springs. Some of Hess’ other books include Googie: Ultramodern Roadside Architecture, Forgotten Modern, The Ranch House, and Hollywood Modern: Houses of the Stars with Michael Stern. Hess was a National Arts Journalism Program Fellow at Columbia University’s School of Journalism and received a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts to research the work of Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. He has a MA degree from the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning, UCLA. Hess has been active in preserving post-World War II architecture, qualifying several significant buildings for the National Register of Historic Places.

This talk is free – reservations required.