William Krisel

Each house in the development had a 40-by-40-foot floor plan. The plans were considered relatively generous in their day and included three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The compactness and economy of the construction reflects the influence of Alexander Construction Co. Repetition Without MonotonyTo achieve economy, Krisel stuck to a few key design principles. By using the same 40-by-40-foot floor plan 90 times, the speed of construction was greatly increased. One can imagine the efficiency gained with the foundations, for example, with the crew having to learn the layout just once and then repeat it. By using the same plan, Krisel could also make the most of off-site prefabricated components, such as kitchens and door assemblies. The square floor plan was ingenious because it allowed Krisel to rotate the plan 90 degrees on adjoining lots. Varying the position of the entrance in relation to the street gave a unique appearance to each house. He also used an exposed post-and-beam construction system that not only created a strikingly modern appearance but also made for the most efficient use of materials and labor.

The compact yet open plan with small but not undersized rooms. A mere 1600 square feet that feels much larger.