Modernism Week: Twin Palms Neighbourhood Tour
My all-time favourite neighborhood to visit when in Palm Springs is Twin Palms; where Palm Springs as we know it today began! It’s not just the appearance of the homes in the Twin Palms neighborhood (the famed lines of the butterfly roof being one major drawcard) but also the fascinating history behind it. William Krisel is the much loved and much celebrated architect behind the buildings of Twin Palms, working for the Alexander Construction Company. Twin Palms was the first tract neighborhood in Palm Springs, and the name itself comes from the two palm trees that were supplied with every home in the front-yard landscaping — simple and sweet! Although it is a tract neighbourhood (where all the homes have essentially the same foot print) Krisel cleverly tweaked enough of the designs to make each home feel like a custom design; such as adjusting the orientation of the homes, the room layouts and where it was set in the landscaping.
Over the last several years of visiting Palm Springs for Modernism Week I’ve been lucky enough to see inside lots of the homes of the Twin Palms neighborhood (some of them more than once!). It’s really fascinating to be able to compare the different layouts and how it impacts the feel of the home — but each one still feels considered and quintessentially ‘Palm Springs’. During Modernism Week tours are run by the ‘Twin Palms Neighborhood Organisation’ and if you’re in town while any are running, I highly recommend taking up the chance to get a peep inside. It is a community organisation, and as the homes are privately owned, it’s really rare to be able to see inside the homes, so the tours of residences offered during Modernism Week are one of your best opportunities to see such clever work that still holds up more than 60 years later. Whatever the time of year you’re visiting Palm Springs, it’s definitely worth a drive around the neighborhood to explore Twin Palms; long sloping angles and beautiful butterfly roofs, and of course the famous twin palm trees of each front yard.
