Ten Things You Should Know About Eichler Homes
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In Palm Springs, Calif., a $1 million home was just built — with plans resurrected from 1951. The original sold for about $15,000, and was called an Eichler, after developer Joseph Eichler, who offered well-designed, well-built tract homes to the masses a half-century ago. And, then among the masses who appreciate and enjoy living in the midcentury modern ethos, an Eichler home keeps it simple. It is not typically overblown with all of the fanciful accoutrements that the McMansions of today posses, even those of some custom midcentury modern architecture. For architects, designers, and design aficionados, I believe that the Eichler home represents an example of a hugely rewarding relationship between builder and architect (or designer). The collaborative spirit between these two roles, at least for merchant builders was, and is, not the norm.
Iconic Home of Developer Joseph Eichler in Atherton Listed for $6.4 Million After Six Decades - Hoodline
Iconic Home of Developer Joseph Eichler in Atherton Listed for $6.4 Million After Six Decades.
Posted: Sat, 30 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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Klopf Architecture updated this Eichler with a radiant floor heating system, restained paneling, and a new office/guest room filled with Eichler hallmarks like dark-bronze door handles. Joanne Encarnacion's office is located in the atrium, on the opposite side of her husband’s, in this double A-frame Eichler renovated by Mackenzie Collier Interiors. Graphic bursts of black and white are complemented by greenery and positive affirmations. Maverick Design invigorated the facade of this 1962 Eichler in Orange, California, with vibrant orange Flaming Torch paint from Behr and attractive landscaping, which also plays a prominent role in the atrium.
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They were designed primarily in what we now call the mid-century modern style. After World War II, many soldiers returned home to the United States, triggering a huge demand for single-family homes. Developers nationwide recognized an opportunity to provide affordable suburban homes to the middle class. Many of these developers did not use Architects to design their houses, but because of the high demand, they could offer generic designs and stay in business. Among many young California architects during the 1950s, there was a feeling of American can-do optimism, mixed with an altruistic belief in the potential of modern architecture to support a better way of life. And some even experimented with small modular house designs for their own use.
San Rafael Eichlers
First and foremost, I believe that the Eichler home was built for the homeowner. I am not suggesting that my grandfather embodied a completely customer-centric approach to building these homes. He was a businessperson after all, and there were definitely business decisions along the way that may not have completely resonated with the customer. However, when you apply the filter of the architect-designed affordable home available to the masses, as he did, this quickly became a quality, value, and ethos that spoke loudly to the would-be homeowner then and even to the current day. His anti-discrimination stance and actions spoke loudly and continue to be a landmark of his legacy to this day. Eichler's first architect-designed homes, 51 Anshen & Allen models, went on the market in 1950.
Missed the open house? Here's a look inside Eichler's personal Atherton home that is listed on the market for $6.38M - Palo Alto Online
Missed the open house? Here's a look inside Eichler's personal Atherton home that is listed on the market for $6.38M.
Posted: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Flowing spaces, no boxy little rooms, all the glass (the Grossmans' house survived three earthquakes without one cracked window wall). Early buyers were artists, a Disney animator, many elementary school teachers — "we even had one Republican," Bernie Grossman says. For my own personal choice, however, I would choose contemporary, midcentury modern, or something of a blend over say Victorian or Mediterranean Villa. So when I see an Eichler renovation I try to look at how it fits with the original design programming while solving for the needs of today’s homeowners.
Striking yellow double-doors greet you at the Thousand Oaks Eichler home, which also features a low-slung roof, a vaulted ceiling, and terrazzo tiles. Double-vessel sinks and unconventional mirrors are just a few of the unique things you’ll find in the bathrooms. All backrooms have access to the outdoor area, which features a sizable pool.
It features a massive skylight and an open living area with a Restoration Hardware coffee table, Crate and Barrel carpeting, a CB2 pouf, and BoConcept couches. Adriene Biondo has been living in an Eichler home for 20 years — the atrium of her home is pictured above. Modern elements of the kitchen include walnut-paneled cabinetry, quartz countertops, a turquoise tile backsplash, and a large center island with seating.
Bill – by President Franklin D. Roosevelt provided stability and security to these war veterans, including stipends covering tuition and expenses for college or trade schools and low-interest mortgages. He would return to his original company and continue building suburban housing until he died in 1974. The company grew over the next several years, and in 1961, Eichler homes became publicly traded. Prioritizing stockholders’ sales goals over creative freedom eventually became problematic for him. When the company began developing large urban projects in the cities, serious problems arose that jeopardized the operation. The Palo Alto development had similar success to the Sunnyvale, and the company was off to a great start.
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During their first years on the West Coast, the Eichlers lived in the Bazett House, a residence in Hillsborough that was an original design by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Bazett House heightened his admiration for Wright and his principles of open floor plans, clean lines, and harmony with nature. Living there further exposed Eichler to the intricacies of modernist architecture and fueled his interest to engage in something more creative – a passion encouraged by his wife, who had similar interests. Developer Joe Eichler and his Eichler Homes, Inc. built nearly 11,000 single-family homes in California, beginning in the late 1940s.
Eichler homes were airy and modern in comparison to most of the mass-produced, middle-class, postwar homes built in the 1950s. At first, potential home buyers, many of whom were war-weary ex-servicemen and women seeking convention rather than innovation, were resistant to the innovative homes. Walnut wood dominates the door and cabinetry, enriching the house with a vintage tone.
They are passionate about their choice of home and its neighborhood, the simplicity of design, the feeling of expansiveness that their home posses. With the amount of glass and ability to see long distances, the home feels larger by including the outside in its fold, rather than the way a home with a simple window or door cutout feels. Then, there was the Eichler home that looked basically "normal" from the outside, but upon entering the home the renovation with a Southwestern motif just didn’t work for me. It just felt out of place in connection with a midcentury modern style home, an Eichler home. "An 'Eichler' captures the word optimism in built form," notes Carlson, who has worked on dozens of private homes on the U.S. "These airy, light-filled, and human scale structures convey the promise of the post-World War ll era, as well as Joseph Eichler's philosophy on domestic life, and the ability of modern design to enhance our quality of life."
Eichler homes originated in post-war America in the middle of the 20th century. During that time, American society experienced unprecedented changes, as more Americans were looking toward the future. The mid-century modern design reflected perfectly what they were looking for – modern features, a hopeful future, and an environment that was bright, sunny, and full of possibilities. This 1970s home’s kitchen, living, and dining areas were originally divided into three distinct zones.
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