Butterfly Roofs: The Alexander Tract Houses

The low slung glass houses with the roofs that seem to fly, the ones that say mid century Palm Springs more than any postcard, were not designed for movie stars. They were built for the middle class, and in enormous numbers. The credit goes to a partnership between the architect William Krisel and the Alexander Construction Company, run by father and son George and Robert Alexander.

Starting in the mid nineteen fifties, Krisel and the Alexanders built more than two thousand homes in the Palm Springs area, including the neighborhood known as Twin Palms Estates, built from nineteen fifty-six to nineteen fifty-eight. Many of the houses shared a few basic floor plans, which let the builders control cost tightly. But Krisel refused to let them look identical.

He varied the rooflines, the paint colors, and the way each home sat on its lot, so no two neighbors matched. His signature was the butterfly roof, a shape that dips low in the middle and sweeps up at both ends, like a bird in flight or an open book. It was not just style.

The rise pulled the ceilings high and framed mountain views, while deep eaves threw shade across the glass. The tract's name, Twin Palms, nods to the palm trees planted on its lots. Krisel proved that good modern design did not have to be a luxury, and he essentially mass produced the Palm Springs look.