William Krisel Architect - A Legend in Palm Springs Architecture

By
Real Estate Agent with Elaine Stewart is the #1 Individual RE/MAX Agent for 11 years straight in the Coachella Valley. (760) 668-2399 BRE# 01169846

 

William Krisel Architect

With the myriad of astounding architectural designs used in and around Palm Springs, it is obvious that some of the most notorious architects have lived or designed there.  One of the more noteworthy ones being William Krisel, AIA of the firm Palm & Krisel which began it's reign in 1924.  Since 1954 William Krisel has been invariably building his fame and notoriety, literally, as a landscape architect and winning the hearts of many with his intriguing designs that have lasted over a duration of time.  Some of his more popular designs have been used world wide as models for studies and instruction in the intricacies of modern architecture.

Over the course of his fifty-one year career, he is personally responsible for having designed well over thirty thousand domestic units in anWilliam Krisel Architectd around the Southern half of California.  This incredible career began when he responded to an invitation from a close friend to design some houses in modern style which were to be named Royal Desert Palms.  These distinguished homes are now referred to as Twin Palms due to the pair of Palm trees that accompanied each home.  His resume contains such professionally designed buildings such as the Las Palmas Estates, the Sandpiper condominiums in Indian Wells and Palm Desert as well as numerous others.  His reputation was rightly earned and it's reach was far. 

Palm Springs is noted for many of the modern designed homes, vacation homes, and many other buildings and with these modernist buildings come a history boasting of a time when Palm Springs was newly being built, a time when the Hollywood stars were the main occupants in the town and the primary architects wanted a look and feel to the place that suited the glamour and stardom that resided there.  Whether there for fun and games, rest and relaxation, or simply to escape theWilliam Krisel Architect stress of their busy lives they wanted a place to run that offered all of the previously mentioned as well as something unique in itself and architect William Krisel was more than capable of delivering those specifications. 

Using his amazing vision of modernist views paired with realistic designs, Krisel delivered some of the most remembered and fantastic living units.  From the butterfly design to the peaked frame with open living spaces throughout the home, each house was built with modern lines giving an open feel to the house and panoramic views of the surrounding desert and mountains. 

Surrounded by desert life and mountain views in the distance, Palm Springs is home to some of the most fabulous modernist homes that can be found.  Having ushered in an entire era of living, the modern design still captures the attention of people today, offering them a chance of stepping back in time to another place, another feeling.  Even today, there are architects, such as Maxx Livingstone, that have taken the wonderful ideas of William Krisel and used his designs for their new homes as well as adding contemporary features to bring the homes into the current time we live in.  The modernism of the past added to the realism of today gives you brand new views on the modernist side of Palm Springs.

Comments (7)

Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News
Fabulous article. I'm a fan of mid-century modern but we don't have anywhere near the great selection that you see in Palm Springs and other CA areas.  Thanks for sharing.
Feb 12, 2008 08:37 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info
I love that you have the mountains in the background, and all those palm trees.... it looks a lot like here in Hawaii.  Are the temperatures similar?  I really want to visit there someday.  Too bad I don't play golf.
Feb 12, 2008 09:08 AM
Tracy Riba
HomeTowne Realty, Johnston County NC - Clayton, NC
Residential & Commercial NC Real Estate Broker
I miss driving thru Palm Springs when I lived in So. Cal.  I always kept my eye out for Bob Hope's home.  Now I'm in North Carolina and have nothing of the contemporary type.  Very nice piece.
Feb 12, 2008 09:59 AM
Charles Dismuke
Amerifund Lending Group - Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs Mortgage Guy

Beautiful pics Elaine!  Seeing pics like this one makes me proud to live in the Palm Springs.

Feb 12, 2008 11:14 AM
Lance Winslow
The Car Wash Guy - Malibu, CA
Wow, yes he is a legend, I had no idea of his work in Palm Springs, great stuff, and in some ways, I guess I am not too surprised to learn all this, it makes sense somewhat. Lance
Feb 12, 2008 06:30 PM
Carolyn Roland-Historic Homes For Sale In Delaware and S. Chester County PA
Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate - Wilmington, DE
Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS

I'm just an easterner, but also a Realtor and Architectural Historian, so I really was encouraged to see the quality of your article.  What do you use as a source?

 

Feb 20, 2008 10:54 AM
Elaine Stewart
Elaine Stewart is the #1 Individual RE/MAX Agent for 11 years straight in the Coachella Valley. (760) 668-2399 - Palm Desert, CA
RE/MAX Desert Properties

Thanks for all your comments, here is a great site with some more pictures of Krisel Homes.

 

Feb 22, 2008 11:24 AM

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?