| The Palo Alto History Project |
| Joseph Eichler |
| 2006 |
| Joseph Eichler: Modern Classics When one thinks of a historic home, one generally pictures stately Victorian houses, perhaps with the classic ornamentation that conjures horse-driven carriages, tophats and afternoon promenades. But although some of us hate to admit it, the 1950s are getting to be pretty…well...historic. And in Palo Alto, 1950s historic architecture means Eichler homes --- the oft-derided, oft praised, recently- funky, expression of a clean and sleek future. In 1948, developer Joseph Eichler began his Utopian quest to bring good architecture to the masses. His one-story house design is known for its clean lines, open floor plans, and glass walls that allow residents to look out onto garden areas. Eichler homes were considered forward thinking in their design. They came to symbolize the promise of a better tomorrow to a burgeoning middle class. But today some critics now believe the Eichlers have the appearance of the future misjudged. Like the Jetsons' home, they represent a future that never came to be. They are most certainly dated --- the question is whether they are dated/historic or dated/badly mistaken. If the National Park Service is any judge, they are historic. In 2005, two Eichler-dominated Palo Alto neighborhoods, Greenmeadow and Green Gables were named to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. Indeed, Eichler homes are now beginning to be seen as pieces of history--- suburban tract history, yes. But history none the less. And Eichlers have attracted a near cult following among those who adore the retro-hip architecture. Today, Palo Verde and Greenmeadow homes that originally cost $17,000 for a three bedroom are going for a million bucks a piece. As the popularity of Eichlers have risen again, their owners have attempted to bring out some of their more original qualities. Eichler home designer K.C. Marcinik says that her home make- overs are attempts to bring out their true originality --- turning the houses into sort of hyper-Eichlers. But such Eichler love has been a long time coming. The 1970’s were not kind to Eichlers. Owners transformed their modernistic dwellings into Arts-and-Crafts bungalows, country French cottages, even Tuscan villas. The '80s weren't much better: Mediterranean tile, southwestern color schemes and second- story additions proliferated. Today in much of Palo Alto, second stories are no longer even allowed. An Eichler must remain an Eichler. Eichlers are quintessential Palo Alto. More Eichlers were built here than anywhere in the United States, about a 2,700 out of a total 11,000, none more than in the Palo Verde neighborhood. They may be a bit odd, but Eichlers remain the pride of Palo Alto’s architectural history. -Matt Bowling |
| Palo Alto: Then & Now |
| Joseph Eichler in 1972 |
| An Eichler interior---"Hyper Eichler" |
| A typical Palo Alto Eichler |
| A neighborhood of Eichlers |
| A page from a Greenmeadow neighborhood promotional brochure from the 1950s |
| 2007 |
| circa 1968 |
| The map below shows the Eichler-heavy Duveneck/St. Francis area |
| A Palo Alto Eichler home |
| The quintessential Eichler patio |
| Joseph Eichler in 1962 |
| The cover from a Greenmeadow promotional brochure. |
| For many, Eichlers now recall the 1950s |
| The house at 3454 Greer Road in the Palo Verde area of Palo Alto in the late 1960s. Note the quintessential Eichler front entrance garage and slightly tilted roof. |
| Today the bushes are gone in the front yard and the driveway is crowded with vehicles---some rather odd. The red and black paint may have been added in recent times in an attempt to "update" the style. The prominent TV antenna remains firmly in place. |
| Sources: Palo Alto Times, Palo Alto Weekly, PAHA, The Eichler Network |