When did Joseph Eichler start building houses in California?
Between 1949 and 1966, Joseph Eichler's company, Eichler Homes, built over 11,000 homes in nine communities in Northern California and homes in three communities in Southern California. Later, other firms worked with Eichler's company to build similar houses.
How much does a Eichler house cost?
Eichler built them, a tract of 50 three-bedroom, one-bath homes that sold for $10,000 each. The first Eichler houses. From there, the homes took off. Eichler Homes built over 10,000 homes in the San Francisco area and about 900 in Southern California from 1949-1966.
Who designed Paul Eichler’s houses?
In later years, Eichler built homes that were designed by other architects including by the San Francisco firm Claude Oakland & Associates and the Los Angeles firms of Jones & Emmons, A. Quincy Jones, and Raphael Soriano.
What happened to Eichler homes in 1954?
In 1954, Eichler Homes sold a home in the Greenmeadows tract to a Black family, and a neighbor complained. The company bought the neighbor’s home back and promptly resold it.
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How do you tell if a home is an Eichler?
A true Eichler will have these features: small windows facing the street and huge windows facing an outdoor space in the back; post and beam construction; center courtyard and roofed atrium; an abbreviated entry court; carport; and “front-to-back” planning that puts the living spaces in the rear of the home.
Who built the Eichler homes?
Quincy Jones & Frederick Emmons is in the Fairhaven tract in Orange, California. Born in 1900 in New York City to German Jewish immigrants, Eichler founded the eponymous Eichler Homes, which built more than 11,000 residences concentrated in Northern and Southern California.
Why are Eichler homes so expensive?
The price premium for these Original Eichler Homes exist because they have essentially become collectors' items. As time has passed, Original Eichlers have become increasingly difficult to find and purist and other design aficionados actively seek them out.
Is Eichler mid-century modern?
Joseph Leopold Eichler (June 25, 1900 – July 1, 1974) was a 20th-century post-war American real estate developer known for developing distinctive residential subdivisions of Mid-century modern style tract housing in California.
How do you pronounce the name Eichler?
0:240:55EICHLERS - HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT!? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI blurs that's all thanks for watching if you like this video please subscribe to my channel if youMoreI blurs that's all thanks for watching if you like this video please subscribe to my channel if you want to share your opinion please leave comments for this video thanks and goodbye.
What is considered a mid-century home?
It broadly describes architecture, furniture, and graphic design from the middle of the 20th century (roughly 1933 to 1965, though some would argue the period is specifically limited to 1947 to 1957).
Do Eichler homes have a crawl space?
Eichlers have no attics or crawl space; the underside of the roof is the home's ceiling. The homes also have a concrete slab foundation that includes embedded radiant-heating elements.
Can you build an Eichler house?
"You cannot build an Eichler home like you did in 1950," Koch clarified, however. Referring to the boatload of improved building materials available today, she added, "You get the look, but you get the thermal advances."
Where are the most mid-century modern homes?
The largest collection of mid-century modern homes, however, can be seen in Palm Springs, California. Some of the world's most famous mid-century modern architects built homes, hotels, motels, and other structures in Palm Springs, and many homeowners building new construction replicate the style.
Who was a famous mid-century architect?
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is the most influential architect of the 20th century, known for developing the most thriving architectural style – mid-century modernism.
What is a Rummer house?
More unique features of the Rummer homes are: large floor to ceiling glass windows to again bring the outdoors in, post and beam construction (beams originally painted in Rhodda's Oxford Brown), vaulted ceilings in some models, galley kitchens with Thermadore stainless ovens and cooktops, radiant heat floors and Roman ...
How much does it cost to build an Eichler?
The plans cost $10,000 and come with structural drawings and everything you need to build them. In the Palo Alto area, Eichlers usually sell for an average of $2.8 million. When you're selling original Eichlers, do people ever try to make it their own? Sometimes, and I have to protect them.
Where did Eichler build homes?
Eichler Homes built over 10,000 homes in the San Francisco area and about 900 in Southern California from 1949-1966. Eichler wanted to improve the quality of housing across the region, and he did just that with his homes that were uniquely stylish yet still affordable.
Can you build an Eichler home?
"Short answer is yes, it's absolutely possible to build an Eichler in Pennsylvania, and there would be a few key differences," Blaine replied through her tagline of Mbugsy. Regarding how modern houses do in colder climate, Koch said she recently designed and built one in the ski resort of Sun Valley, Idaho.
Who is the architect Eichler?
Joseph Eichler was the developer who, inspired by modernist architects as Richard Neutra and Frank Lloyd Wright, brought quality but affordable architecture to post-WWII American families and across the entire mid-century period. Eichler homes are more than just homes, they represent a way of living.
When was the Eichler home built?
Spanning 1,908 square feet, this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom Eichler was built in 1963. The home was designed by A. Quincy Jones and is located in Rancho Del Diablo. The house is on the market for the first time in 45 years.
How many square feet is the Eichler home?
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.
What inspired Eichler to become a real estate developer?
It was the Bazett House that inspired Eichler to become a real estate developer and to specialize in modern homes.
What is an Eichler home?
Eichler homes are prime examples of early California modern architecture, with clean geometric lines, glass walls, A-frame roofs and open living spaces. They epitomize the mid-century modern style and the floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outdoors inside.
Where did Eichler live?
Eichler was born and raised in New York City. After earning a business degree at New York University (NYU), he moved to San Francisco to work in the family business. At the time, he lived in the Sidney Bazett House, a Usonian-style home that Frank Lloyd Wright designed.
What is Eichler's home called?
Eichler’s homes are often referred to as “California Modern ,” and many of the home’s designs have inspired contemporary home design.
Did Eichler advocate for equal housing?
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.
Who designed the Eichler house?
In 1948, Eichler hired Robert Anshen —a Wright protégé—to design post-and-beam houses for his developments. “One of Anshen’s earliest designs for Joe, the Eichler family home in Atherton from 1950, carried over many of the Wrightian elements found at the Bazett. Anshen took some of that with him while designing Joe’s earliest tract homes,” explains Marty Arbunich, publisher of the Eichler Network and CA-Modern magazine.
Who was Joseph Eichler?
Joseph (Joe) Eichler (1900–1974) was the first merchant builder to work closely with postwar housing architects to develop stylish, mass-produced tract homes. He wanted to construct them with quality materials that gave the homes a custom-designed look. Eichler’s unwavering commitment to quality design and materials produced homes at the pinnacle of accessible and stylish Mid Century Modern residential architecture and are highly sought-after today.
What was the first cul de sac in Eichler?
Eichler was the first to use Anshen’s concentric circle “bullseye” plans to create culs-de-sac that provided privacy without sacrificing community. This is an element still important to Eichler homeowners today. “With our CA-Modern magazine, we’ve profiled scores of Eichler neighborhoods over the years. We’ve discovered that some are more tight-knit than others. But, all of them, to some extent, celebrate their common lifestyle like no other non-Eichler neighborhoods I know,” says Marty.
What is Joseph Eichler's commitment to accessible design?
Joseph Eichler’s commitment to accessible design elevated his homes and neighborhoods to icons of Mid Century Modern residential architecture that continue to impact the way we design homes today . “There were scores of modern builders around the country back then, but no one built on the scale of Eichler, with dedication to building exclusively modern, and to giving architects such a starring role.”
Who was the photographer for 1955 Sacramento Eichler?
Read more about this 1955 Sacramento Eichler here. Photo by Jim Brown.
Is Eichler's home a modern or minimalist home?
Minimalist Mid Century Modern residential architecture enjoys wide appreciation today. However, Eichler’s homes have not always been popular. “By the 1980s, at a time when Mid Century Modern in general had fallen out of favor, the Eichlers were unfairly criticized as being cheap construction and called ‘the 10-minute burn’ when it came to facing fire,” according to Marty. “At the onset of the 1990s, the tide was beginning to turn in a big way.” These homes are now popular among contemporary buyers. Developers either secure permission to build new Eichlers using the original plans or create new designs that directly reference the original buildings.
What is an Eichler home?
What Are Eichler Homes? Mid-Century Modern Architectural Gems, That’s What. Eichler homes have come to epitomize a certain type of Mid-Century Modern style. If you’re a fan of clean lines, traditional materials, and minimal ornamentation, chances are good you will adore this architectural style.
What was Eichler's development?
Eichler’s developments weren’t just about the architecture of the homes, but also included parks and other community features, a concept that current master-planned communities are returning to. He also had a commitment to selling homes to people of color when other builders refused to.
What are the features of an Eichler?
A true Eichler will have these features: small windows facing the street and huge windows facing an outdoor space in the back; post and beam construction; center courtyard and roofed atrium; an abbreviated entry court; carport; and “front-to-back” planning that puts the living spaces in the rear of the home.
Who was Eichler inspired by?
Inspired by his time living in a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Eichler wanted to take Wright’s design ideas and make them accessible to middle-class home buyers. “Typical homes of the time were compact brick houses with asphalt shingles and small windows,” explains Andrew Mikhael, an architect in New York City.
Who was Joseph Eichler?
A real estate developer working in California in the 1950s and ’60s, Joseph Eichler was one of the primary builders responsible for bringing modern homes to the masses. He built over 11,000 houses around the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, and changed the reigning ideology about what was possible for middle-class suburban homes.
Can Eichler homes be remodeled?
They’re also easy for buyers to update. “Eichlers have very clean lines and can easily be remodeled to form a beautiful, ultra modern residence,” explains Fichelson. The technology used in many Eichler homes—such as radiant floor heating —is also still coveted by buyers.
Who built the Eichler homes?
He worked with leading architects of the day—Anshen & Allen, Oakland & Associates, Jones & Emmons, A. Quincy Jones, and Raphael Soriano— to design the distinctive dwellings that are now simply known as Eichlers and still coveted today.
Who renovated Eichler in Silicon Valley?
An indoor/outdoor view of an updated Eichler in Silicon Valley that was renovated by Klopf Architecture.
Why did Eichler resign?
In 1958, Eichler resigned from the National Association of Home Builders when they refused to support a nondiscrimination policy. This 1964 home in the Fairhills tract in Orange, California, was designed by Jones & Emmons with Claude Oakland.
What did Joseph Eichler do?
Joseph Eichler not only defined the middle-class home of the midcentury period, but also worked to dismantle racist housing policies. Joseph Eichler’s name is synonymous with the stylish, midcentury homes that his development company brought to the suburbs of California. His role in fighting for fair housing policies and integrated neighborhoods, ...
How many houses did Eichler sell to black people?
Later, Eichler Homes codified its policy to sell to any qualified homebuyer regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. By 1964, the company had sold 30 to 40 houses to Black buyers, according to accounts from Eichler’s son Ned. This was an "open secret" in the industry; salespeople didn’t advertise the fact, but they didn’t hide it, either.
What did Eichler believe about housing discrimination?
He believed, however, that if a buyer was qualified, there was no good reason not to sell them a home.
What did Joseph Eichler do for the Civil Rights Commission?
Civil Rights Commission, Federal Housing Administration, Housing and Home Finance Agency, and Housing and Urban Development about how to craft and promote anti-discrimination laws.
When was the Eichler house built?
California Dreaming: An Eichler Home for Furniture Fanatics. This stunning Joseph Eichler home was bought by two lifelong mid-century furniture collectors to house their enormous collection. Built in California in the 1950s, it’s a typical mid-century Eichler house. June 18, 2018. Eichler Houses, Homes.
What is an Eichler home?
Eichler homes are more than just homes, they represent a way of living. Still today their unique and iconic design is synonym of a lifestyle which the new owners must and are more than willing to embrace.
What does an Eichler house owner tell us?
An Eichler house owner will tell us what buying a mid-century house brings, what she had to renovate, and why.
Where is the Eichler home in Walnut Creek?
This beautifully renovated home located in the Rancho San Miguel neighbourhood in Walnut Creek is an exceptional revamp of an original Eichler home design.
Where is the Eichler house in San Francisco?
There’s a pleasing functionality to this mid-century house. Situated in the Diamond Heights neighbourhood of San Francisco, CA, it is an original Eichler house renovated between 2012 and 2013 by Hennessey Architects. November 6, 2017.
When will Eichler homes be renovated?
This Eichler home renovation in South Bay, California, brings back the light and space which previous renovations have took away. June 10, 2019. Eichler Houses, Homes, Mid-Century Homes. June 10, 2019.
Where is Michelle Wahlen's home?
After an extensive search for an Eichler that would feel like their own, Michelle Wahlen and Thierry Zamora found their perfect midcentury home in Marin County, CA. September 27, 2020. Eichler Houses, Homes, Mid-Century Homes. September 10, 2020.
How old was Eichler when he started building?
Though his building career began at age 45 —significantly, after he and his family rented a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright—he nevertheless left 11,000 residences in progressive suburbs. Eichler hired architects to design reasonably priced homes that were modern, not traditional.
What were Eichler houses made of?
The inherent design of the houses made them affordable, even fitted out with expanses of glass and redwood. Nor were these cookie-cutter homes. Designs evolved, floor plans changed, carports and garages were added, atriums, patios, and terraces introduced.
What is the center gable of an Eichler house?
In the mid-1960s, the large, glazed center gable became an Eichler signature. The houses make best use of small lots, concentrating outdoor space in the rear, contiguous with open living space. Bedrooms are in front; high clerestory windows keep them private, as do the flanking carport or garage and walls.
When did Eichler Homes file for bankruptcy?
Overextended on far-reaching projects including low- and high-rise urban housing and co-op communities, Eichler Homes filed for bankruptcy in 1967.
When did Wright create the Usonian house?
In the mid-1930s Wright developed the concept of the Usonian house—modern, moderate in size, featuring concrete-slab construction and a nearly flat roof, with open living space and small, sequestered bedrooms.
Who did Eichler hire to design his houses?
At first he used a draftsman to design the houses, but soon hired the modern architects Robert Anshen and William Stephen Allen, and was on his way.
Is Eichler a bigger house than they are?
Residents regularly report that their Eichler homes “live bigger than they are,” despite a relatively modest square footage. An underappreciated trait, modesty all but defines these homes.
When was Eichler Homes built?
The largest contiguous Eichler Homes development is "The Highlands" in San Mateo, built between 1956 and 1964. Foster Residence, Granada Hills.
How many homes did Joseph Eichler build?
Between 1949 and 1966, Joseph Eichler's company, Eichler Homes, built over 11,000 homes in nine communities in Northern California and homes in three communities in Southern California. Later, other firms worked with Eichler's company to build similar houses. Together, they all came to be known as Eichlers.
How many Eichler homes are there in Pomeroy West?
Pomeroy West – Santa Clara, California, with 138 Eichler homes in a condo community.
How many Eichler homes are there in Balboa Highlands?
Balboa Highlands – Granada Hills, California, with 109 Eichler homes in an Eichler community in the San Fernando Valley; There are a number of homes in this neighborhood that retain their original details. The "Harris Residence" and the "Foster Residence" are designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments.
What was the Eichler entry foyer?
Later models introduced the distinctive Eichler entry atriums, an open-air, enclosed entrance foyer designed to further advance the concept of integrating outdoor and indoor spaces.
What is an Eichler home?
Eichler homes are examples of Modernist architecture that has come to be known as "California Modern", and typically feature glass walls, post-and-beam construction, and open floorplans in a style indebted to Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. 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. Many other architectural designs have large windows on all front-facing rooms.
Where did Eichler live?
In 1943, Eichler rented the Sidney Bazett House in Hillsborough, California, a Usonian -style home built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Living in the Bazett home inspired Eichler to become a residential real estate developer of Modernist homes.
