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He was the first large-scale builder to sell to minoritized folks, even building a home on his private lot for an NAACP leader. His social views, especially his non-discrimination policy, led to his resignation from the National Association of Realtors after they refused to support him. Joseph Eichler changed the landscape of residential architecture with modern design concepts that gave his homes both flair and function. While famous for his California Modern style, he left a more important legacy as a strong advocate for fair housing and as the first big developer to sell to minorities.
Welcome to Balboa Highlands Eichler Homes
Eichler didn’t initially set out to become an activist for equal housing opportunities. He just believed that if people were qualified, they should have the right to purchase a home. He was so passionate about creating inclusive housing that he resigned from the National Association of Home Builders after the organization refused to support a non-discrimination policy.
What Are Eichler Homes and Why Do People Love Them?
Biondo, the author of Modern Tract Homes of Los Angeles, worked for 10 years to get "Historic District" status for Balboa Highlands. Quincy Jones and partner Frederick Emmons — designed were magnets for certain kinds of buyers. What I have learned about my grandfather and Eichler Homes has been handed down to me over the years through stories from my father, through meeting and getting to know people like A. Quincy Jones and his wife Elaine, Claude Oakland, some employees who worked for him, and some of his friends.
Eichler Homes
Eichler home exteriors featured flat and/or low-sloping A-framed roofs, vertical 2-inch pattern wood siding, and spartan facades with clean geometric lines. One of Eichler's signature concepts was to "bring the outside in", achieved via skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows with glass transoms looking out on protected and private outdoor rooms, patios, atriums, gardens, and swimming pools. Also of note is that most Eichler homes feature few, if any, front-facing (i.e., street-facing) windows; instead house fronts have either small, ceiling-level windows or small, rectangular windows with frosted glass.
This is mainly because of a renewed interest in mid-century modern style, their location in the pricey Bay Area market, their unique qualities, and their status as collector’s items. The Eichler home on Mackay Drive in Palo Alto features a large lot (more than 8,000 square feet) and a modest floor plan that spans 1,540 square feet. The kitchen features beautiful slate floors, custom cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and a wine fridge. The home has been expanded since its original construction to include an extra family.
Midcentury Mood: The Eichler Homes of California
Quincy Jones ever met Joseph Eichler, the two architects were grappling with the issues surrounding the postwar housing crisis. Anshen and his wife, Eleanor, who were living in Cambridge, Massachusetts immediately after the World War II, wrote and lectured on their recommendations for mass production and standardization in the construction industry. Joseph Eichler was a real estate developer known for developing subdivisions in the mid-century modern style.
When the Idea of Atriums Was in the Air
When designing his home, he focused on the concept of bringing the outdoors inside. As you may notice, many of his homes have very few or no street-facing windows. Eichler sold homes to many Black families, including Franklin “Frank” Williams, the lead counsel of the NAACP’s West Coast chapter. When other families in the neighborhood would protest the sale of the home to a Black family, Eichler went door to door to confront them. As a testament to the influence Joseph Eichler has on residential architecture, Eichlers aesthetic – exemplified by his typical homes – was the inspiration for the home of Pixars Incredibles, an animated superhero family.
In the South Bay, BLAINE Architects expanded this Eichler by transforming its old carport into an atrium. A folding glass NanaWall system allows the owners to watch their kids in the playroom from the kitchen. For Urbanism Design’s first project, interior designer Pamela Lin-Tam made the atrium the centerpiece of this Eichler. Built in 1966 in San Rafael, California, this Eichler designed by Claude Oakland showcases the homeowners’ carefully amassed furniture collection. In the living room, for instance, a travertine-topped coffee table by Paul McCobb pairs well with a Florence Knoll Parallel Bar System sofa and an original Josef Albers print scored on eBay that hangs above the fireplace. Some 100 guests can comfortably convene in this Eichler updated by Maydan Architects.
Renovated Eichlers That Epitomize Midcentury California Cool
See ‘rare’ Sacramento home — a 1955 Eichler in South Land Park — for sale for $800,000 - Sacramento Bee
See ‘rare’ Sacramento home — a 1955 Eichler in South Land Park — for sale for $800,000.
Posted: Tue, 07 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
They believe that Eichler homes are more than modern houses, but also a philosophy of living. According to Eichler, he wanted to build “well-designed houses with a sense of moral purpose.” His houses redefined how families lived, prioritizing sustainability, nature, functionality, and long-lasting appeal. Notably, he brought people together in new ways through the unique floor plan and accessibility to the outdoors. Today, homeowners painstakingly restore existing Eichler homes to their former glory. And those that have been well-maintained often command a premium in the real estate market. Others seeking to recreate the essence of these homes have turned to building new homes from Midcentury Modern-inspired house plans.
To make the living area flow as one, Klopf Architecture removed the glass doors and solid walls separating the enclosed atrium from the kitchen and living room. A Herman Miller trade poster, Design Within Reach book tower, and IKEA sofa mingle in the space. They left Kansas and Idaho and Illinois for jobs in aerospace, oil and entertainment. The houses were modern, optimistic about the future — they were what these soldiers been fighting for.
This Eichler home with an Italian-inspired remodel is for sale - SFGATE
This Eichler home with an Italian-inspired remodel is for sale.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
At the time, developers built homes to look identical to one another to make them easily replicable and save money on building costs. Eichler homes changed that by bringing a distinctive, modern style and making it available to an average homeowner. Surrounded by nature and community spaces, people fell in love with their homes and integrated communities. This style of architecture redefined how middle-class families lived and how houses should look.
In Northern California, they can be found in areas in and around Marin county, the East Bay, San Mateo county, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, San Jose, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Three small communities of Eichlers in Southern California stand in Orange, Thousand Oaks, and Granada Hills. In addition, there are three Eichler-built residences in New York state. Together these thousands of 'Eichlers' reflect the beauty and uniqueness of the Eichler design and the integrity and daring of the builder behind it. Fifty years later, the house that Joe built endures as a marvelous legacy. As early as 1956, Eichler would begin dabbling with the atriums in his designs.
While stepping out to the backyard, the rectangle pool, swim ledge, and raised spa are eye-catching. An indoor-outdoor paradise, the Desert Eichler Two is a prime example of excellent mid-century architecture. Luxurious and chic, the central atrium of the house is surrounded by sliding glass doors that lead to multiple rooms. As suburbia sprawled out in the 1950s due to low-cost housing and construction along with GI bill benefits for returning service members (primarily available to white veterans), many people were suddenly able to buy a home.
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