Discover the remarkable story of the Alexander family and architect William Krisel, and how, together, they transformed the way Modern homes were designed and built in the Coachella Valley.
Working closely with Krisel, the Alexanders built more than 1,000 homes in a bold new high-Modern style, bringing the look and feel of custom-designed homes to the mass market while keeping it remarkably affordable to build.
The Alexanders were more than developers. They were a stylish and charismatic family whose homes, cars, fashion, and lifestyle captured the attention of national magazines. Krisel, a brilliant USC-trained architect, had spent his early life in the Orient, where he developed an appreciation for Asian architecture and the economy of its design. His admiration for Frank Lloyd Wright also profoundly influenced his work. Krisel understood how to achieve exceptional design with economical means, a talent that made the Alexander homes both innovative and attainable.
Together, the Alexanders and Krisel created an aspirational desert lifestyle that captured the imagination of a new generation of second-home buyers. Their pioneering approach not only helped define Palm Springs Modern but also became an influential model for developers throughout the Coachella Valley.
Chris Menrad is a founding board member and past president of the Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom). He is co-author of William Krisel’s Palm Springs: The Language of Modernism and has restored numerous Alexander homes, including his own.
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