Albert Frey: A Symposium

We’re bringing back the annual architecture-focused symposium through Modernism Week!

Palm Springs Art Museum in partnership with Palm Springs Architectural Alliance, presents a symposium in celebration of Albert Frey’s work and legacy. Paul Goldberger, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic, will provide the keynote address, with presentations by Brad Dunning, Frey exhibition curator; Barbara Lamprecht, architectural historian; and Joseph Rosa, architect and Frey biographer. 

These four experts will be featured in a new book published in conjunction with the exhibition, Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist. The reconstruction of Frey's 1931 Aluminaire House™ at the museum makes this symposium timely in gaining a deeper understanding of his distinctive contributions to modern architecture.

Albert Frey (1903-1998), born in Switzerland, was one of the most important modern architects of our time.  He lived and worked in Palm Springs since 1934, establishing a style of modernist architecture that came to be known as "desert modernism." Over a long and prolific career, he produced more than 200 building designs, including such notable local landmarks as the Palm Springs City Hall, the Aerial Tramway Valley Station with John Porter Clark and his own residence, Frey House II, and the Aluminaire House™, both in the permanent collection of Palm Springs Art Museum.

Following the morning presentations, a box lunch will be provided in the sculpture garden, and the Frey exhibition book will be offered for sale with a book signing by the presenting authors.

After lunch there will be a self-driving tour of Frey sites, featuring an architecture specialist at each site to provide insightful historical information. Symposium participants will be provided a map of the tour sites including several Frey structure exteriors that can easily be viewed from the street. 

Tickets are available through the Modernism Week website. Members can select the museum member ticket to receive discounts.

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Support for this program provided by the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco.