William Krisel

The roof of the Rumens-Lee house makes a dramatic silhouette against the blue sky of Palm Springs.Butterfly roof. This roof design seems to defy gravity, as it sweeps up from a low point near the middle of the house. Here, the low point is centered over the dining area and projects up toward the kitchen and living room, creating dramatic variation in ceiling height and ceiling pitch within the same space. The roof is supported on only four beams. Krisel extended the exterior walls at a height of just 7 feet and placed a continuous row of clerestory windows between the top of the walls and the roof. The roof literally springs free of the walls, creating a lightness to the home. In the master bedroom, the 7-foot exterior wall provides privacy while loads of natural light comes in through the clerestory windows. Krisel was taking advantage of Palm Springs’ desert environment. This style of roof is a real headache in colder climates, where ice dams form and snow can drift in the roof’s low point.

Front roof lines, garage - porche

Twin Palms, Palm Springs floor plans!

Krisel’s butterfly roof design seems to defy gravity, as it sweeps up from a low point near the middle of the house. Here, the low point is centered over the dining area and projects up toward the kitchen and living room, creating dramatic variation in ceiling height and pitch within the same space. The roof is supported on only four beams. Krisel extended the exterior walls at a height of just 2.1 metres and placed a continuous row of clerestory windows between the top of the walls and the roof. The roof literally springs free of the walls, creating a lightness in the home. In the master bedroom, the 2-metre-high exterior wall provides privacy, while natural light pours in through the clerestory windows.