Modernism Week: Vintage books available for purchase at Architecture + Design Book Sale

Owning an architecturally unique home may be out of the price range these days, but that doesn't mean you can't bring a piece of those not-so-humble abodes to yours.

As part of the fall architectural showcase event Modernism Week-October, which runs Thursday through Sunday, The Friends of the Palm Springs Library will be holding a special Architecture + Design Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Palm Springs Public Library.

The event itself is free to attend and open to the public, and books are priced between $5 and $100. Proceeds will go toward the nonprofit, which supports and raises funds for the library.

Vintage, gently used and some rare architecture and interior design books will be available for purchase during the one-day event. Autographed copies of books, like famed interior designer Christopher Kennedy’s book, "Making Midcentury Modern," and the hard-to-find "Master of Midcentury: The Architecture of William F. Cody" by Catherine Cody, Don H. Choi and Jo Lauria, will also be on sale.

Additionally, Alan Hess, a nationally recognized architect, author, historian and critic, will appear from noon to 2 p.m. to autograph his books, also on sale at the library courtesy of The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs, and chat with attendees. He is the author of "Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture," "Palm Springs Weekend: The Architecture and Design of a Midcentury Oasis" and "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs," among others.

Several months ago, the nonprofit received a large donation of design and architecture books from a private collection, and later more came in from another donor. Michael Hirschbein, Laura Miller and Ginger Semple, board members of The Friends of the Palm Springs Library, soon realized they had something special on their hands, especially when they saw that the books were well-kept.

The trio have spent the last few months pricing hundreds of books for the event, which are divided into architecture, interior design and landscape architecture groupings.

"I'm an architect, and I've been involved with some historic preservation issues as well, and to go through these books and to see, wow, this one's really rare ... it was really rewarding," Hirschbein said of the process.

Because the sale is part of Modernism Week-October, which showcases the best of the valley's mid-century modern architecture, there are plenty of books dedicated to important desert landmarks and their architects, such as Albert Frey, Richard Neutra and Cody. But many also go beyond local offerings. "Private Edens: Beautiful Country Gardens" explores more than 20 lush private country gardens on the East Coast, while "Historic Houses of Paris" and "Parisian Interiors" showcase some of the finest residences the French capital has to offer.

"Some of these are very rare, out of print, therefore collectible and hard to find, so we're very fortunate," Semple said.

There's even an architectural spin on a classic children's story with Steven Guarnaccia's "Goldilocks and the Three Bears: A Tale Moderne," so even the youngest residents can get a head start on their love of design.

As the board members have sifted through so many books, they've learned a thing or two about architecture from around the world. While reading fiction and nonfiction books in her spare time, Semple noticed the name Elsie de Wolfe kept coming up. One day, she came across "Elsie De Wolfe: A Decorative Life" in the piles of donated books and went on a fascinating deep dive into the woman who is lauded as America’s first decorator. Hirschbein always knew that Italian design post-World War II was important, but he had "no idea it was that broad" until he flipped through "Italian Furniture." Similarly, Miller was drawn to "Japanese Folkhouses" and its exploration of vernacular architecture throughout the Asian country.

The Architecture + Design Book Sale is just one of several events that will be taking place during Modernism Week-October. For a full list of offerings, visit modernismweek.com.

For more information about Friends of the Palm Springs Library, visit friendsofthepalmspringslibrary.org.

If you go

What: The Friends of the Palm Springs Library's Architecture + Design Book Sale

When and where: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

How much: Free admission, books range from $5 to $100

More information: friendsofthepalmspringslibrary.org

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs fall Modernism Week to hold Architecture Design Book Sale