Palm Springs preserved

The website of the Palm Springs Modern Committee makes a strong case for preserving the Coachella Valley’s wealth of midcentury architecture — from seemingly silly structures to the undeniably sublime.

The advocacy group, which was founded in 1999 to promote and help preserve the Desert Modern style, takes its mission seriously while still managing to have fun on this cheerful site.

The “Buildings” section features the works of four architects who made their mark — Albert Frey, William Cody, Donald Wexler and E. Stewart Williams — with short, informative biographies and spectacular photographs (including many by Julius Shulman).

Another section, “Lost Buildings,” reviews and mourns significant demolitions such as a Neutra home built in 1962 and razed in 2002 or the bulldozing a year later of the Biltmore hotel, erected in 1948.

“Links” connects visitors with desert organizations as well as various architecture and preservation websites and makes ordering suggested books on the Modern desert style a snap.

Although a virtual tour of the desert’s architectural treasures is pleasurable, the site offers a better alternative: Go to the “Shop” page and buy the group’s “Palm Springs Modern Map” ($8, including postage) to significant local buildings that includes address, architect and year built for each structure — then make a weekend of it.

Christy Hobart