California Modernism Pioneer William Krisel Dies
During his life, architect William Krisel contributed 1,200 affordable, modernist middle-class homes to California between 1957 to 1963, with the builder-developers George and Robert Alexander. He explained to NPR back in the ’50s that his mission was to build a system where buyers could purchase “a 100 x 100 lot, all fenced in, landscaped, modern design, air condition, swimming pool—all for $29,900.” And that’s exactly what he delivered, among many other accomplishments. Pioneering the tract housing, Krisel built variations by way of paint schemes, rooflines (including the butterfly roof, which he popularized) and positioning back from the road so that no two looked the same. In February 2016, Palm Springs renamed a street after the architect who passed away this week.
Via npr.org link opens in a new window
