The third house on the Palm Springs Modern Home Tour was the Kings Point House, designed by William Krisel in 1969.
Aha! I see you, attentive reader. You have noticed that we have skipped number two. Well, what happened to number two? House two did not allow photos. But it was a very interesting house.
House two was Krisel’s 1959 Alexander Tract Home. Now, one may look at the term “Tract House” with disdain. Sure, it is a term that has been associated with all of the ills of both the modern suburban houses full of ticky-tack as well as the depressing neo-Marxist houses of the slums. However this is an abomination of a tremendously important idea. There is no need that the common item be stupefyingly dull, be it a house, a hammer or a vehicle. Design within the confines of producibility is a challenge but it is one worth taking up. It can be done. Items that are to be used can be pleasures to be used. This should be the mantra of any designer.
Further, there is no need that art and design be relegated to things unusable either. We have all seen the beautiful corkscrew that doesn’t work. This is more of a travesty than the rough edged, uncomfortable, but effective block design. I put forth that the useable piece of art is greater than any painting or sculpture. It is art whose shape inspires and whose worth grows with use.
What twaddle. Anyway, about the house. Very lovely home and a lovely pool. Um. It reminded me of my grandparents house. Ah. The kitchen looked updated…
Well, this is what happens when you don’t allow photos.
Home three, then.
This home was situated around a golfing area on a fairly tight lot (this may be a distortion of my fly-over country prejudice, take that as you may). Yet the living spaces felt tremendously comfortable do to the brilliant use of light. Windows abound high above the living room. The white interior made the whole space glow.
An aside: While I was out photographing the beautifully stark Palm Springs shadows, my wife noticed that Mr. Krisel was sitting having a bit of pie. So she got to speak with such a brilliant man while I turned my back to him and made sure I framed the shot correctly. I am a dunce.
