Eichler Houses

Eichler homes are within the most successful examples of modernist architecture for the mass market.

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. Still today their unique and iconic design is synonym of a lifestyle which the new owners must and are more than willing to embrace.

Eichler Houses, Between Art and Marketing

Eichler hired Ernie Braun to photograph the house. The photos impressed Belluschi so much that he remarked to Eichler that they showed off the house even more than the images published by Life.
Braun often pictured near-empty rooms, with just a few cushions to decor the space. The use of low camera angles generated a dynamic feel to the otherwise almost empty interiors,

Monique Lombardelli: a Life for Eichlers

Monique Lombardelli is a MidCenturyHome reader and fan of our Facebook Page. When she approached us to tell about her projects and documentaries on Eichler houses, we couldn’t resist; we asked her for an interview.
Monique is a realtor specialised in modernist houses and also a film-maker so, combining the two passions in a documentary about Eichler houses felt natural.

Eichler Homes: From Niche to Mainstream

Starting in 1953, the American real estate market began to change. The rise of average salaries and a spreading optimism about the future, caused a dramatic increase of buying requests for the first time since the end of the war. New buyers also began to develop more refined tastes – asking for more elaborate designs; requests to which builders eagerly responded, including new features as second bathrooms, larger living areas, more functional kitchens and in-house intercoms.

Eichler Homes: Promoting Modernism.

It’s almost certain that Joe Eichler would not have had as much success as he did if it wasn’t for the Californian style success and its strong cultural basis, which many of Eichler’s developments marketing campaigns were based on.

Eichler Homes And The Birth of The Modernist Dream

Generally speaking, Americans living in the early 1940s rarely accepted modern architecture as the standard for private housing. Californians however, were the exception – owing to a subculture of reformers and philanthropists that chose a contemporary and modern style when designing their houses.