Modern Architecture
Architecture
See 2 Iconic Modernist Neighborhoods on the East and West Coasts
Twin Palms and Six Moon Hill have fostered resilient communities and passionate architecture fans for over 70 years
Palm Springs, California, is synonymous with low-slung midcentury modern homes designed by some of history’s biggest names in architecture. Twin Palms, a development of 90 iconic homes by William Krisel and Dan Palmer, was the first of its kind in the region. This midcentury modern enclave inspired a design ethos in Palm Springs that continues today.
However, this community was part of an architectural movement much larger than the Coachella Valley. A group of architects in a small town outside Boston was exploring similar ideas at Six Moon Hill, a modernist neighborhood of 29 homes and one of the first of its kind on the East Coast.
However, this community was part of an architectural movement much larger than the Coachella Valley. A group of architects in a small town outside Boston was exploring similar ideas at Six Moon Hill, a modernist neighborhood of 29 homes and one of the first of its kind on the East Coast.
Corinne Krisel, William Krisel’s wife, is pictured outside a Twin Palms home in 1957. Archival photo by Julius Shulman, J. Paul Getty Trust
Twin Palms was a developer-driven project, with a standard profit motive. Architect William Krisel convinced the Alexander Construction Co. to let him design this subdivision of boldly modern houses. He took a page from the tract housing playbook by making each house similar in plan and using an economical kit of parts that could be fabricated in bulk. The properties were built in phases from 1956 to 1958 and sold as a complete package, including home, swimming pool, landscaping — and two palm trees.
On the East Coast, the partners at The Architects Collaborative (TAC) conceived Six Moon Hill as a place to build their ideal community. Developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, all 29 lots were priced the same, despite some being far more desirable than others. Common land, including for a community swimming pool, was set aside to be shared by all residents. The individual lots were left unbuilt, with an understanding that modernism would be the guiding principle in the design of the houses and landscapes. Lots were chosen by drawing straws from a hat.
Twin Palms was a developer-driven project, with a standard profit motive. Architect William Krisel convinced the Alexander Construction Co. to let him design this subdivision of boldly modern houses. He took a page from the tract housing playbook by making each house similar in plan and using an economical kit of parts that could be fabricated in bulk. The properties were built in phases from 1956 to 1958 and sold as a complete package, including home, swimming pool, landscaping — and two palm trees.
On the East Coast, the partners at The Architects Collaborative (TAC) conceived Six Moon Hill as a place to build their ideal community. Developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, all 29 lots were priced the same, despite some being far more desirable than others. Common land, including for a community swimming pool, was set aside to be shared by all residents. The individual lots were left unbuilt, with an understanding that modernism would be the guiding principle in the design of the houses and landscapes. Lots were chosen by drawing straws from a hat.
The Harkness House, designed by Walter Gropius’ partners Sarah and John Harkness for their family in 1949. Photo by Colin Flavin
TAC’s Six Moon Hill Community
The Harvard Graduate School of Design attracted some of the brightest minds in the world to teach architecture. Among those was famed architect Walter Gropius, who had left his Bauhaus School in Germany during the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s. Gropius prioritized modernist ideals of functional design, reasonable cost and community life.
In the greater Boston area, heavily wooded lots, rocky terrain and hilly roads required architecture that could adapt to complicated sites. While Lexington, Massachusetts, is best known as the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War, it is also home to Gropius and his firm’s Six Moon Hill modernist neighborhood.
TAC’s Six Moon Hill Community
The Harvard Graduate School of Design attracted some of the brightest minds in the world to teach architecture. Among those was famed architect Walter Gropius, who had left his Bauhaus School in Germany during the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s. Gropius prioritized modernist ideals of functional design, reasonable cost and community life.
In the greater Boston area, heavily wooded lots, rocky terrain and hilly roads required architecture that could adapt to complicated sites. While Lexington, Massachusetts, is best known as the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War, it is also home to Gropius and his firm’s Six Moon Hill modernist neighborhood.
Walter Gropius in 1919. Photo from Wikimedia Commons
In 1945, The Architects Collaborative (TAC) was formed. This was a new kind of firm, where collaboration was celebrated and the hierarchical and gendered office structures were rejected.
The seven recent architecture school graduates who joined Gropius were Jean Fletcher, Norman Fletcher, John Harkness, Sarah Harkness, Robert McMillan, Louis McMillen and Benjamin Thompson. TAC established its office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, maintaining close proximity to Harvard, where Gropius was teaching.
In 1945, The Architects Collaborative (TAC) was formed. This was a new kind of firm, where collaboration was celebrated and the hierarchical and gendered office structures were rejected.
The seven recent architecture school graduates who joined Gropius were Jean Fletcher, Norman Fletcher, John Harkness, Sarah Harkness, Robert McMillan, Louis McMillen and Benjamin Thompson. TAC established its office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, maintaining close proximity to Harvard, where Gropius was teaching.
The Gropius House, designed by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, was built in 1938 as his family home in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Photo by Colin Flavin
By the late 1940s, the Boston suburbs were largely developed, which meant that difficult sites were the only ones still vacant. Gropius and other notable architects had previously opted to build in the nearby suburb of Lincoln. In the adjacent town of Lexington, the TAC architects found 20 acres of hilly, forested land for sale. They formed a cooperative agreement to buy the land and build houses that highlighted their designs.
See Walter Gropius’ own home in Lincoln, Massachusetts
By the late 1940s, the Boston suburbs were largely developed, which meant that difficult sites were the only ones still vacant. Gropius and other notable architects had previously opted to build in the nearby suburb of Lincoln. In the adjacent town of Lexington, the TAC architects found 20 acres of hilly, forested land for sale. They formed a cooperative agreement to buy the land and build houses that highlighted their designs.
See Walter Gropius’ own home in Lincoln, Massachusetts
Map of the Six Moon Hill development in Lexington, Massachusetts, with the original owners noted.
The TAC partners designed all the houses, and each member of the collaborative designed a home for his or her own family. The homes were integrated into the forested setting, with subdued color palettes and natural plantings.
The floor plans were flexible. Some utilized a split-level layout, others were planned as one level, and some were two or even three floors. The use of inexpensive materials, including a mixture of modular steel and fixed glass windows, is prevalent across the community. Vertical red cedar siding with minimal window and door casings is a common language among the houses.
The TAC partners designed all the houses, and each member of the collaborative designed a home for his or her own family. The homes were integrated into the forested setting, with subdued color palettes and natural plantings.
The floor plans were flexible. Some utilized a split-level layout, others were planned as one level, and some were two or even three floors. The use of inexpensive materials, including a mixture of modular steel and fixed glass windows, is prevalent across the community. Vertical red cedar siding with minimal window and door casings is a common language among the houses.
There are no fences between yards in Six Moon Hill. Original footpaths have been maintained and are frequented by children in the neighborhood. Photo by Colin Flavin
The winding Moon Hill Road (including cul-de-sac) was planned as part of communal social space where traffic was slow and children could play. Four acres of common land were set aside for recreation, sports and gathering.
The homes were designed for more inclusive living as well. The kitchens were open-concept, not divided spaces based on gendered expectations of home maintenance and chores. For example, the Harknesses opted for a multiuse living area that functioned as the kitchen, dining room and playroom. They eventually wanted to expand this space’s use even further and connect it to the outdoors in nice weather. They braced large windows with steel ties so the windows could be raised overhead, like garage doors.
The winding Moon Hill Road (including cul-de-sac) was planned as part of communal social space where traffic was slow and children could play. Four acres of common land were set aside for recreation, sports and gathering.
The homes were designed for more inclusive living as well. The kitchens were open-concept, not divided spaces based on gendered expectations of home maintenance and chores. For example, the Harknesses opted for a multiuse living area that functioned as the kitchen, dining room and playroom. They eventually wanted to expand this space’s use even further and connect it to the outdoors in nice weather. They braced large windows with steel ties so the windows could be raised overhead, like garage doors.
Photo by Nat Rea Photography
Case study: The Tucker House. A unique aspect of Six Moon Hill is that almost all the houses have been altered over the years. The Tucker House, shown here, is a good example. Harkness designed it, and Richard Morehouse, an associate at TAC, soon added to it. More recently, Techler Design Group renovated the main house, and a recent art studio accessory structure, designed by Flavin Architects, was added to the property.
Case study: The Tucker House. A unique aspect of Six Moon Hill is that almost all the houses have been altered over the years. The Tucker House, shown here, is a good example. Harkness designed it, and Richard Morehouse, an associate at TAC, soon added to it. More recently, Techler Design Group renovated the main house, and a recent art studio accessory structure, designed by Flavin Architects, was added to the property.
Flavin Architects was tasked with designing an art studio and carport at the Tucker House. The material palette alludes to the original home. Photo by Nat Rea Photography
The changes made by Morehouse, Techler and Flavin respect the quiet modernism of Six Moon Hill by sticking with the modest material palette of gray stain, cedar siding, white trim and flat roofs.
New Backyard Studio for a Home in an Iconic Modern Neighborhood
The changes made by Morehouse, Techler and Flavin respect the quiet modernism of Six Moon Hill by sticking with the modest material palette of gray stain, cedar siding, white trim and flat roofs.
New Backyard Studio for a Home in an Iconic Modern Neighborhood
Contemporary shot of the Twin Palms neighborhood. This home features an extended butterfly roof. Photo by Colin Flavin
William Krisel’s Twin Palms Community
Twin Palms has a very different origin story. In California, architect William Krisel, partner at Palmer & Krisel, was friends with the owners of Alexander Construction, a large-scale residential builder. Krisel’s friendship with the Alexanders led them to visit the modern house that Krisel had built for himself in Los Angeles. Exposed post-and-beam construction and walls of glass created a continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. Krisel’s brilliance was his ability to take these design motifs, make them economical and then apply them at scale.
Krisel jumped at the opportunity to design modern housing developments for the Alexanders, instead of designing individual custom homes for wealthy clients. He found that having one client for hundreds of houses suited him better. In an interview, Krisel said, “I much preferred doing tract work because we could create this hypothetical family as the client, whereas when you have a real client, they want you to measure how many pairs of shoes they have and how many neckties they have and how they fold their socks.”
William Krisel’s Twin Palms Community
Twin Palms has a very different origin story. In California, architect William Krisel, partner at Palmer & Krisel, was friends with the owners of Alexander Construction, a large-scale residential builder. Krisel’s friendship with the Alexanders led them to visit the modern house that Krisel had built for himself in Los Angeles. Exposed post-and-beam construction and walls of glass created a continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. Krisel’s brilliance was his ability to take these design motifs, make them economical and then apply them at scale.
Krisel jumped at the opportunity to design modern housing developments for the Alexanders, instead of designing individual custom homes for wealthy clients. He found that having one client for hundreds of houses suited him better. In an interview, Krisel said, “I much preferred doing tract work because we could create this hypothetical family as the client, whereas when you have a real client, they want you to measure how many pairs of shoes they have and how many neckties they have and how they fold their socks.”
William Krisel. Photo by James Schnepf
Krisel and the Alexanders. Palm Springs was a largely undeveloped blank slate in the 1950s. Krisel, with his expertise as a designer and experience in tract-style housing, combined with the Alexanders’ skill in land acquisition, economical construction and financing created the perfect marriage.
Krisel and the Alexanders worked together to create the first successful modern home subdivision in Palm Springs. During his career, in which he designed more than 30,000 houses, Krisel planned most of the 1,260 houses the Alexanders built in Palm Springs.
Palmer and Krisel were able to market their architectural services as a full package. Work done by Corinne Krisel, William Krisel’s wife, was part of this package. Corrine provided color and interior design services inspired by the palette of the surrounding desert.
William Krisel’s Twin Palms: A Modern American Dream
Krisel and the Alexanders. Palm Springs was a largely undeveloped blank slate in the 1950s. Krisel, with his expertise as a designer and experience in tract-style housing, combined with the Alexanders’ skill in land acquisition, economical construction and financing created the perfect marriage.
Krisel and the Alexanders worked together to create the first successful modern home subdivision in Palm Springs. During his career, in which he designed more than 30,000 houses, Krisel planned most of the 1,260 houses the Alexanders built in Palm Springs.
Palmer and Krisel were able to market their architectural services as a full package. Work done by Corinne Krisel, William Krisel’s wife, was part of this package. Corrine provided color and interior design services inspired by the palette of the surrounding desert.
William Krisel’s Twin Palms: A Modern American Dream
Interior image of the Alexander House, adjacent to the Twin Palms neighborhood. Archival photo by Julius Shulman, J. Paul Getty Trust
Achieving economy. To achieve economy, Krisel and the Alexanders laid out the subdivision with 90 equal-size, 10,000-square-foot lots. With consistent setbacks to the property lines, the project had the makings of a typical cookie-cutter housing development. Krisel avoided that with a few deft design moves. He arranged the three primary components — house, detached carport and swimming pool — in different ways to create a varied streetscape. He placed each pair of palms in different locations on the properties as well.
Achieving economy. To achieve economy, Krisel and the Alexanders laid out the subdivision with 90 equal-size, 10,000-square-foot lots. With consistent setbacks to the property lines, the project had the makings of a typical cookie-cutter housing development. Krisel avoided that with a few deft design moves. He arranged the three primary components — house, detached carport and swimming pool — in different ways to create a varied streetscape. He placed each pair of palms in different locations on the properties as well.
Typical floor plan of a Twin Palms home with a center entry and gabled roof. The pool and carport are also depicted.
Each home’s square shape allowed Krisel to deftly rotate the floor plan 90 degrees on adjoining lots to give a distinct presentation from the street, with the front door facing directly on the street as shown here, or facing to the left or right sides.
Even while the floor plans rotated, Krisel kept the kitchen, living and dining spaces facing away from the street and toward the pool and backyard. This created a seamless flow from inside to the usable outdoor spaces.
Each home’s square shape allowed Krisel to deftly rotate the floor plan 90 degrees on adjoining lots to give a distinct presentation from the street, with the front door facing directly on the street as shown here, or facing to the left or right sides.
Even while the floor plans rotated, Krisel kept the kitchen, living and dining spaces facing away from the street and toward the pool and backyard. This created a seamless flow from inside to the usable outdoor spaces.
Each 40-by-40-foot home in Twin Palms has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The floor plan. Each three-bedroom, two-bathroom house has a 40-by-40-foot floor plan, providing a generous 1,600-square-foot interior. By using the same compact square shape 90 times, the speed of construction increased, and efficiency was gained on the foundations, wall framing and exterior siding.
Similar to his own home, Krisel used post-and-beam framing set on a concrete slab, allowing for generous expanses of glass. Mechanical services were located under the concrete floor, freeing up the roof to be more sculptural.
The floor plan is well considered, with the more public kitchen, living and dining spaces, shown in orange in these drawings, organized on one side, and the private bedrooms and bathroom spaces, shown in red, on the opposite side. It’s an effective strategy to provide acoustic separation for sleeping while the party goes on.
The floor plan. Each three-bedroom, two-bathroom house has a 40-by-40-foot floor plan, providing a generous 1,600-square-foot interior. By using the same compact square shape 90 times, the speed of construction increased, and efficiency was gained on the foundations, wall framing and exterior siding.
Similar to his own home, Krisel used post-and-beam framing set on a concrete slab, allowing for generous expanses of glass. Mechanical services were located under the concrete floor, freeing up the roof to be more sculptural.
The floor plan is well considered, with the more public kitchen, living and dining spaces, shown in orange in these drawings, organized on one side, and the private bedrooms and bathroom spaces, shown in red, on the opposite side. It’s an effective strategy to provide acoustic separation for sleeping while the party goes on.
Typical floor plan of a Twin Palms home with a left entry and butterfly roof.
The roofline. Krisel was a world-class puzzle master. In addition to rotating the floor plans and varying the locations of the carport and pool, he added further variation with different roof options, including a butterfly roof, a gable roof and an extended butterfly roof.
The roofline. Krisel was a world-class puzzle master. In addition to rotating the floor plans and varying the locations of the carport and pool, he added further variation with different roof options, including a butterfly roof, a gable roof and an extended butterfly roof.
Typical floor plan of a Twin Palms home with a right entry and extended butterfly roof.
When you first visit Twin Palms, it can be quite difficult to detect Krisel’s repetition of the exact floor plan, as each home feels so unique. It’s impressive to see such economically built housing continuing to be embraced by the owners almost 70 years after it was built.
The Influence of These Two Communities
The designers of both these developments were seeking to create designs that responded to modern life in their eras. Palmer and Krisel were successful as architects working with a builder to produce thousands of homes. After Twin Palms, they went on to design more communities in Palm Springs, including in the Vista Las Palmas development, Canyon View Estates and Racquet Club Estates, among others. The success of Twin Palms inspired many modern tracts by the Alexanders and others and helped set the architectural style for the city.
Krisel’s attention to branding has retained its value. The work that he and the Alexanders put into market research, curb appeal and the efficient delivery of a consistent product was part of their innovation. They were selling a lifestyle that had a major influence on large-scale builders going forward.
Back on the East Coast, TAC would go on to create Five Fields (1951), a similar development with 68 houses and common amenities. After that, the collaborative shifted its focus to larger-scale institutional and public work, becoming one of the largest architectural firms in the country.
When you first visit Twin Palms, it can be quite difficult to detect Krisel’s repetition of the exact floor plan, as each home feels so unique. It’s impressive to see such economically built housing continuing to be embraced by the owners almost 70 years after it was built.
The Influence of These Two Communities
The designers of both these developments were seeking to create designs that responded to modern life in their eras. Palmer and Krisel were successful as architects working with a builder to produce thousands of homes. After Twin Palms, they went on to design more communities in Palm Springs, including in the Vista Las Palmas development, Canyon View Estates and Racquet Club Estates, among others. The success of Twin Palms inspired many modern tracts by the Alexanders and others and helped set the architectural style for the city.
Krisel’s attention to branding has retained its value. The work that he and the Alexanders put into market research, curb appeal and the efficient delivery of a consistent product was part of their innovation. They were selling a lifestyle that had a major influence on large-scale builders going forward.
Back on the East Coast, TAC would go on to create Five Fields (1951), a similar development with 68 houses and common amenities. After that, the collaborative shifted its focus to larger-scale institutional and public work, becoming one of the largest architectural firms in the country.
Renovated Peacock Farm home in Lexington, Massachusetts, designed by Walter Pierce in 1952 and reimagined by Hisel Flynn Architects.
TAC’s development of two midcentury modern communities inspired other East Coast architects to follow. Walter Pierce designed Peacock Farm in 1952, creating a simple and economical house plan that he mirrored, flipped and reoriented to create distinct homes. Pierce went on to design Turning Mill, another community steeped in the same values, in 1955. Brown’s Wood, built in 1953, was designed as a collaboration between many of the area’s modern architects. These developments shared principles similar to those of Six Moon Hill: creation of common land, maintenance of the existing natural landscape, indistinguishable lot lines and a social emphasis.
The communities of Twin Palms and Six Moon Hill inspired modern subdivisions and were instrumental in bringing modern architecture to a broader audience.
The Significance of the ‘Firsts’
Twin Palms and Six Moon Hill have stood the test of time, but for different reasons. Krisel committed to clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. Combined with the weather and an inspiring macro-environment, these homes have gained the appreciation of new generations. They remain sought after and have stimulated tourism in Palm Springs.
TAC’s development of two midcentury modern communities inspired other East Coast architects to follow. Walter Pierce designed Peacock Farm in 1952, creating a simple and economical house plan that he mirrored, flipped and reoriented to create distinct homes. Pierce went on to design Turning Mill, another community steeped in the same values, in 1955. Brown’s Wood, built in 1953, was designed as a collaboration between many of the area’s modern architects. These developments shared principles similar to those of Six Moon Hill: creation of common land, maintenance of the existing natural landscape, indistinguishable lot lines and a social emphasis.
The communities of Twin Palms and Six Moon Hill inspired modern subdivisions and were instrumental in bringing modern architecture to a broader audience.
The Significance of the ‘Firsts’
Twin Palms and Six Moon Hill have stood the test of time, but for different reasons. Krisel committed to clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. Combined with the weather and an inspiring macro-environment, these homes have gained the appreciation of new generations. They remain sought after and have stimulated tourism in Palm Springs.
Two contemporary images of Twin Palms (top) and two recent photos of Six Moon Hill (bottom) from the street. Twin Palms has retained its original graphic appearance, whereas the Six Moon Hill properties have been enveloped by the forest. Photos by Colin Flavin
The young TAC partners, on the other hand, were designing unconventional and interesting homes as a device to create community for families and children. The Six Moon Hill neighbors have embraced the founders’ commitment to building relationships. Today, they maintain the original footpaths, use the community land for social gatherings and continue the tradition of hosting a welcome dinner when a new family moves into the neighborhood.
Lessons From Midcentury Modern Architects
These two communities can teach us valuable lessons, including the use of design to create more flexible homes with mixed-use spaces and the ability to expand. They value efficiency, the use of affordable materials, building housing at a large scale and promoting energy efficiency in new construction and renovations.
These architects remind us of the importance of immersing our homes in the natural environment as well as in a community environment. Now, as we approach the mid-21st century, what is our direct approach to responding to modern life in our era?
This article is an edited version of a talk delivered by architect Colin Flavin on Feb. 14 at Modernism Week 2025 in Palm Springs. Halsey Smith contributed to this article.
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The young TAC partners, on the other hand, were designing unconventional and interesting homes as a device to create community for families and children. The Six Moon Hill neighbors have embraced the founders’ commitment to building relationships. Today, they maintain the original footpaths, use the community land for social gatherings and continue the tradition of hosting a welcome dinner when a new family moves into the neighborhood.
Lessons From Midcentury Modern Architects
These two communities can teach us valuable lessons, including the use of design to create more flexible homes with mixed-use spaces and the ability to expand. They value efficiency, the use of affordable materials, building housing at a large scale and promoting energy efficiency in new construction and renovations.
These architects remind us of the importance of immersing our homes in the natural environment as well as in a community environment. Now, as we approach the mid-21st century, what is our direct approach to responding to modern life in our era?
This article is an edited version of a talk delivered by architect Colin Flavin on Feb. 14 at Modernism Week 2025 in Palm Springs. Halsey Smith contributed to this article.
More on Houzz
See other iconic historic homes
Read more about architecture
Find an architect for your next project
Shop for home products
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Among the First Modern Communities
In postwar America, few architects succeeded in designing and building modern subdivisions at scale. Within the context of the 1940s and ’50s, Twin Palms and Six Moon Hill stand out as some of the first midcentury modern communities built on each respective coast. While both were modern, the designers and builders of these subdivisions had different visions from one another.
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