Eichler Houses (1949 – 1974)
An Eichler House is essentially a one-story Ranch, but Eichler’s company reinvented the style, creating a revolutionary new approach to suburban tract housing.
History:
Real estate developer Joseph Eichler brought a fresh, new modernist approach to affordable tract housing. Eichler Homes, constructed about 11,000 houses in California. Many other builders across the United States imitated the design ideas.
In Palm Springs, California, the Alexander Construction Company also pioneered modernist approaches to suburban housing, building thousands of open, sophisticated Alexander Homes.
Features:
Post-and-beam construction
Concrete slab foundation
Long front facade with attached carport
An open-air courtyard at the entrance
Floor-to-ceiling windows
Sliding glass doors
Radiant heat in the floors
Exposed ceiling beams
Next: Geodesic Dome
