Alexander Homes - Merchant builders George and son Bob Alexander were two of many housing developers working in the Los Angeles area in the boom years after World War II. Bob was eager to establish himself with his own ideas and projects in the early 1950's; when he met architect William Krisel and the two began to discuss how to build Modern housing tracts at a time when ranch and colonial were still the favored style. Influenced by Cal Straub, a teacher at the School of Architecture at USC Krisel and partner Dan Palmer designed houses that used post and beam construction methods, with butterfly roofs, natural stone walls, pattern concrete block, clerestory windows, carports ­ these designs showed that Modern design could be a successful commodity in the housing market. The Alexanders moved from West Los Angeles to Palm Springs in 1957 and by the mid sixties had built over 2,000 homes in the area. Originally the base price of a 1,225 square foot Alexander home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a pool was $19,500. Today, fifty years after their birth, the Great Alexanders are being born anew - restored, retrofitted and readapted for the 21st century year round living.




sign up for the totemhouse newsletter and be notified of the offical re-launch of the website!

Send an email to totemhouse@yahoo.com to be added to our list.