Palm Springs, CA

The Palm Springs neighborhood of Twin Palms has been featured in a just-released podcast and You Tube video entitled America’s Coolest Neighborhoods. This limited series is part of the weekly program, Your Valuable Home, which has been produced since 2013 and is among the top 10%of podcast downloads. Twin Palms is predominantly a William Krisel–designed midcentury modern neighborhood and is one of five developments nationwide recognized in this series.

Series producer Ron Melk said, “The choice of subject neighborhoods was guided by the concentration of enduring examples of residences with historically significant architectural styles. Twin Palms certainly qualifies.”

The 38-minute segment features Eric Chiel, the founding past-chairperson of the Twin Palms Neighborhood Organization, discussing the architectural and cultural significance of his neighborhood.

“Twin Palms was the first Modernist neighborhood in the region,” said Chiel.“William Krisel and the Alexander Construction Company created homes that appeared to be custom but were actually economically built tract houses that were stylish and well-suited to the desert environment and a leisurely lifestyle. The homes were enormously appealing and their availability in 1957 instantly ignited a population boom that continues to this day.”

The segment also features Modernism Week Treasurer Mark Davis discussing the role and impact of that organization’s annual event.“From February 16 to 26, 120,000 guests will enjoy more than 380 Modernism Week programs like neighborhood tours, parties, films, presentations, concerts, a vintage marketplace, and more,” says Davis. “This year we’re pleased to feature a Twin Palms Content Track with six programs focused on the neighborhood.”

This podcast was released by the New Pod City Podcast Network. The video version contains images and footage—some never publicly exhibited before—that exemplify why Twin Palms is a featured neighborhood in the “Coolest” series.

It can be viewed here:

For more about Twin Palms at Modernism Week, click here

For more about all Modernism Week programming, click here

.