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 Alexander Residence, Royal Desert Palms 1957 Photo: Julius Shulman |
William Krisel, AIA, principal of the firm of Palmer & Krisel (formed with Partner Dan Palmer), was born in 1924 in Shanghai of American parents working overseas for the U.S. State Department. Krisel lived in China until age 13, when his family returned to the US, where he attended Beverly Hills High. During World War II, Krisel was assigned to General Joe Stilwell as a Chinese interpreter. He attended USC for his degree in architecture. Krisel has also been a licensed landscape architect since 1954.
Designing more than 30,000 living units throughout Southern California, Krisel's career spanned over 51 years. A close personal friend of developer Bob Alexander and his family, Krisel came to the Desert at the request of Alexander to design a tract of modernist houses dubbed Royal Desert Palms (now known as Twin Palms for the pair of Palm trees that graced each of the homes). Other Palmer & Krisel projects include the Ocotillo Lodge, Las Palmas Estates (Vista Las Palmas), Racquet Club Estates and the Sandpiper condo complexes in Indian Wells and Palm Desert (which garnered an AIA merit award for Landscape Architecture). The "House of Tomorrow," conceived as an experiment in modern living, so impressed Alexander's wife Helene that they made it their personal residence. The house later gained fame as the honeymoon home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. |
BUILDINGS
(click on any image below for larger version and NUMEROUS additional photos)
Las Palmas Estates (Vista Las Palmas)
1957
Rendering: William Krisel, AIA
Racquet Club Road Estates
1958-59
Photo: Julius Shulman
Sandpiper (condominium)
1958
Collection: William Krisel, AIA
Silver Spur Riding Club (unbuilt)
1961
Rendering: William Krisel, AIA
House of Tomorrow
1960
Photo: Look Magazine
Grundt-Tipper House
1968
Photo: William Krisel, AIA
Article on Palmer & Krisel on the Eichler Networks website written by Robert Imber
History of the Sandpiper Condo Complex in Palm Desert by Modcom member Jim West
Website focusing on the Raquet Club Road Estates Tract
Metropolis Magazine Article focusing on restored Alexander with landscaping by William Krisel
The Palm Springs Modern Committee
Contact: Peter Moruzzi
Website Designer & Editor: Michael Stern