Modernism Week Spotlight: Hi-Sun Home Tour
The Hi-Sun home tour was the latest Featured Home by H3K Home + Design. Designed by mid-century architect Charles Du Bois in 1963 and built by the Alexander Construction Company, the home is located in the beautiful Vista Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs, CA.
Architect Charles Du Bois
Charles Du Bois was born in New York but was raised in Glendale, CA by family members. After a year at UCLA, he transferred to MIT. He worked for several prominent architecture firms during the 1930’s and opened his own firm in 1938 on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. He designed some great spaces in Los Angeles during the 1940’s (which I will have to go see for myself!). He really began designing homes in the Palm Springs area starting in the late 1950’s. He teamed up with the Alexander Construction Company to work on several large developments. He is most known for the “Swiss miss” style homes with an A-frame roof construction, but Hi-Sun, featured here is not one of those.
Another big mid-century trend was Hawaiian inspired architecture, colors and features. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, not only had Hawaii become a popular tourist destination for Americans, but many military service members who had been stationed in the Pacific returned after WWII, having been exposed to the Hawaiian ‘style’. Du Bois and several of the desert modernists incorporated these features into their designs. The exterior of the Hi-Sun home had a bit of this tropical design with the muted green tones, the rock exterior and of course the palm trees swaying in the view.
Indoor/Outdoor Living
The construction of the home is quintessential mid-century with a low-slung profile, very slightly pitched roof, post and beam construction. In the case of Hi-Sun, the rock siding on the outside appears also on the inside on the fireplace feature.
As is typical for any true mid-century home, the outside landscaping blends seamlessly into the home with lots of large windows and glass doors for bringing the outside in. In the case of Hi-Sun, the home is perched right at the base of the mountain, creating beautiful, unobstructed views of the desertscape.
Hi-Sun Home Tour Interior: Geometric Patterns Everywhere
Many homes I saw during this year’s Modernism Week featured a creative style in which the owners strive to capture that 1960’s era mid-century essence through the use of modern (ie, 2023), updated furnishings and fixtures. One way I noticed designers doing this was through the use of lots of geometric patterns in wallpaper, pillows, rugs, furniture, etc.
I love the attention to detail at the Hi-Sun home. Just notice this corner of the living room: wood paneling, an oak geometric space divider, a lamp which echoes the exterior and interior rock siding, rusty velvet orange sofa and geometric print pillow to pull it all together. If you are looking for mid-century inspiration for your own home, this is really the design blue print!
The kitchen is completely brand new and up to date but the choice of yellow, geometric tile is a wink to that by-gone era. And terrazzo tile is a definite nod to the classic mid-century interior.
Hi-Sun Home Tour: Color Makes the Space
In addition to shapes, color is key to creating the ultimate Palm Springs mid-century space. Throughout Hi-Sun, there are pops of red, yellow, orange, blue.
Perfect for Entertaining
No mid-century home is complete without the perfect bar – or bar cart, as the case may be.
Modernism Week Information
Modernism Week is an annual event which takes place in Palm Springs, California and the surrounding Coachella Valley. There is a smaller event, which happens in the Fall, called “Fall Preview”. The main event takes place in February with ten days of home tours, talks, movies, parties, bus tours, bike tours, shopping and more. Advanced tickets are typically required of most events and many of the popular tours and events sell out quickly. Tickets typically go on sale in December. All of this information can be found on their website at Modernism Week. However, I have been many times now as a media participant and am happy to answer any of your questions. You can email me here or leave a comment below.
My YouTube recap of Modernism Week 2023 is here, with more videos and images of the Hi-Sun Home Tour:
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy:
Modernism Week Spotlight: Indian Canyons Neighborhood Tour
Modernism Week Spotlight: Yoasis Home Tour
Modernism Week Spotlight: The Lautner Compound
Modernism Week Fall Preview 2020
Hidden Gem Series: El Rancho Vista Estates in Palm Springs, CA
Perched Above the Desert: The Cree House by Albert Frey
Modernism Week Fall Preview in Palm Springs, CA
Neutra’s Unprecedented Lovell Health House
Walker Guest House/ Palm Springs Modernism week
More on Palm Springs Architecture & Design:
I’ve rounded up a selection of books to provide more information the unique and distinct mid-century architecture and design found in Palm Springs, CA and the surrounding Coachella Valley.
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