across the u.s.mid-century moderncalifornia
The Alexander homes of Palm Springs
More than 1,200 modern houses built in Palm Springs, California from the mid-1950s by the Alexander Construction Company, mostly designed by Palmer & Krisel. They fill tracts like Twin Palms Estates, Vista Las Palmas and Racquet Club Road Estates. Protection is house by house, not by district.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- builtfrom 1955Alexander Construction Co.
- homes1,200+in Palm Springs, per the city
- architectsPalmer & Kriselplus Charles DuBois, Donald Wexler
- designationhouse by houseno district for the main tracts
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- One plan, many looksIn Twin Palms, one square plan with a utility core sits on a 40-by-40-foot pad, rotated and paired with butterfly, gable or flat roofs so the street looks varied.
- Post-and-beam glassPost-and-beam construction with floor-to-ceiling glass at the rear.
- RooflinesRacquet Club Road Estates uses five rooflines that take in a carport and breezeway, plus clerestory windows; Vista Las Palmas has Charles DuBois’ A-frame and folded-plate roofs.
- Built like a kitStandardized, pre-cut and labeled materials were delivered to the site.
protection
Designation and the rules
- The city’s classesClass 1 and 2 sites and district contributors need the city’s preservation board to approve demolition or major alterations; minor alterations need a certificate from the preservation officer. Class 3 (eligible) properties go to the board for demolition and major alterations, and any building from before 1978 (Class 4) goes to the board for demolition.
- What counts as majorChanging 25% or more of a street-facing elevation, or 50% or more of all elevations or of the footprint.
- Not districts, yetTwin Palms Estates, Vista Las Palmas and Racquet Club Road Estates aren’t designated districts. A 2018 city survey found Twin Palms eligible for national, state and local listing and Vista Las Palmas eligible locally.
- Individual landmarksSome Alexander houses are Class 1 sites, such as the Twin Palms Residence (2013) and the Robert Alexander Residence (2021); the steel houses by Donald Wexler became a National Register district in 2021.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The house’s classLook up the address on the city’s Class 1 and 2 list and its Eligible Resources list; the contributors in all three tracts are listed by address as Class 3.
- Past alterationsChanges can cost a house its status: one Alexander house was removed from the Class 3 list after its windows were replaced and its courtyard and carport enclosed.
- Who designed itDesigners vary by tract and phase (Charles DuBois or Palmer & Krisel, for example), and some attributions are disputed.
- The landThe city survey places these tracts within sections of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation; ask the title company what, if anything, that means for the parcel.
- Tax savingsDesignated properties may qualify for Mills Act tax savings through the city.
Counts differ: the city says over 1,200 Alexander homes in Palm Springs; the visitors bureau says more than 1,200 across the Coachella Valley.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- City of Palm Springs: Citywide Historic Context Statement (final draft, 2018)Tracts, dates, architects, features.www.palmspringsca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/63938/636806566469270000
- City of Palm Springs: potential historic districts (Appendix D)Eligibility of the three tracts.www.palmspringsca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/63954/636806567449670000
- City of Palm Springs: Class 1 and 2 sites and historic districts (2026)Designated houses.www.palmspringsca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/94037/639203970180430000
- City of Palm Springs: Class 1 and 2 historic propertiesApprovals by class.www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/planning/historic-resources/historic-properties/class-1-2-historic
- City of Palm Springs: Eligible Resources list (2023)Class 3 addresses.www.palmspringsca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/64260/638489649996470000
- Visit Palm Springs: The AlexandersCompany history.visitpalmsprings.com/blog/post/the-alexanders-the-developers-who-helped-build-modern-palm-springs/
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
What is an Alexander home?
A modern house built by the Alexander Construction Company in Palm Springs from the mid-1950s, usually to a Palmer & Krisel design, with post-and-beam glass walls and distinctive rooflines.
Which neighborhoods have Alexander homes?
More than a dozen tracts from 1955 to 1969, including Twin Palms Estates, Vista Las Palmas and Racquet Club Road Estates.
Can an Alexander home be remodeled?
It depends on the house’s class in the city’s system; check the address on the city’s lists before you plan exterior changes.
more to learn
Keep going
- Paradise Palms, Las VegasPalmer & Krisel’s Las Vegas neighborhood.
- Cliff May homesThe California ranch house and its designer.
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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