Archive for the ‘Eichler Homes’ Category

Sep
9

Palo Alto Meadow Park Neighborhood: Secluded Eichler homes with great Walkability

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Eichler Homes, Featured Listings, Info For Buyers, Info For Sellers, Palo Alto Real Estate

INTRODUCTION TO MEADOW PARK, WHERE SECLUSION MEETS CONVENIENCE IN PALO ALTO

A small neighborhood in south Palo Alto, which features large lot sizes, Meadow Park is remarkable for its balance of tranquility and accessibility to shopping, recreation, and transportation.  Bordered by Adobe Creek, Bibbits Drive, Charleston Road and Grove Avenue, Meadow Park enjoys Palo Alto’s myriad of amenities and yet embodies the feel of a peaceful, intimate community.

Meadow Park is visually distinct from other Palo Alto neighborhoods because of its history as an Eichler development.  In 1958 Meadow Park was advertised by Eichler Homes as the newest prestige development featuring 34 homes, each a minimum 7,800-square feet.  “They are specially designed for the family that appreciates the finest in California Living,” reads the brochure.  Many of the original features touted by Eichler abound in Meadow Park.  728 Gailen Ave. contains some of the best examples.

Original Brochure for Eichler Meadow Park Subdivision

Original Brochure for the Eichler Homes Meadow Park Subdivision: The full expression of Eichler Home Design

A recent ordinance limiting homes to a ‘single-story overlay’ preserves the unique visual cohesion of this neighborhood’s quiet streets and cul-de-sacs.  Meadow Park is a perfect illustration of customizable Eichlers; the houses are similar in structure, yet each made distinct through adjustments to landscaping and the home’s exterior.

Walking through Meadow Park, its mid-century homes appear in subdued shades of tan and sage, as well as in dusty blue and bold apple green.  Spacious front yards range from manicured lawns to wildflower beds, occasionally punctuated by children’s toys.  City trees are planted in front yards along the sidewalks, creating a canopy over wide streets such as Louis Road.  There is very little traffic through Meadow Park; one is more likely to encounter dog walkers or children biking than have the neighborhood’s serenity interrupted by a vehicle.

Although secluded, Meadow Park is only a few blocks away from endless Palo Alto resources.  Its location is enhanced by proximity to Middlefield Road, a major artery running through residential Palo Alto.  Two minutes away, at the intersection of Middlefield Rd. and Charleston Rd, the Charleston Shopping Center houses Peet’s Coffee and Piazza’s Fine Foods, and is a convenient stop for residents on the way to or from work.  Rick’s Ice Cream, frequented by locals from all corners of Palo Alto, is also located within the Center.

Mitchell Park and Library, just north of Charleston on Middlefield Rd., is easily accessible from Meadow Park and includes a recreation center, lighted tennis courts, baseball field, playgrounds and fenced dog run for use by Palo Alto residents.  The 21.4-acre site hosts Palo Alto events such as the annual summer chili cook-off and music in the park evenings.

Beyond the park are Fairmeadow Elementary School and J.L. Stanford Middle School.  “The schools were a big factor in our move,” says one Grove Ave. resident.  Many families with young children are attracted to Meadow Park because of easy access to quality Palo Alto public schools.

A few minutes south of Meadow Park is San Antonio Shopping Center and 5 minutes east are major shopping outlets such as Costco, Office Depot, REI and Best Buy.  There is immediate access to Highway 101 with efficient routes to Silicon Valley, San Francisco and the East Bay.

Hot spots such as Phil’z Coffee and Midtown shopping center are a short distance north on Middlefield Rd.  Midtown mixes larger staples such as Safeway and CVS pharmacy with smaller favorites such as Palo Alto Café.  Downtown Palo Alto and Stanford University lie a few minutes beyond on University Ave.

“I love the convenience to [Charleston Shopping Center] and to Mitchell Park,” says Faith Hastings, secretary of the Meadow Park Neighborhood Association.  “Now we have a lot of shopping across San Antonio Ave., so it’s a very convenient location.”  Hastings moved to Meadow Park with her husband, Al, in 1965, and raised a family in the neighborhood.

In addition to its convenient location, the warm atmosphere of the neighborhood attracts residents.  “You see people out walking, walking their dogs, talking, and that makes it feel more like a neighborhood,” Hastings says.

The next post in this series explores the community of Meadow Park in more detail.

Aug
11

Eichler’s Influences: Elegance in Design and the Atrium Entry

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Eichler Homes, Palo Alto Real Estate

Joe Eichler valued sophistication and grace in his personal and professional style. He greatly admired men such as Fred Astaire and Joe DiMaggio for their mastery and elegance.  Eichler was also inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs and sought to bring this simplicity and modernity to suburban America.   

One of the most notable characteristics of Eichler’s homes, the atrium, embodies Eichler’s artistic flair and melds a number of Eichler characteristics. See previous posts for more no Eichler Style.  Eichler’s E-11 & E-21 models, such as 728 Gailen Ave. in Palo Alto, were the first to incorporate the atrium as it is now recognized.  According to Ned Eichler, it was architect Bob Anshen, of Anshen & Allen, who appreciated this ancient Roman design and refined it.   

 

In Roman structures, the atrium was where one received guests and thus was regarded as the most important room of the home. This open-air room often included extravagant decoration, such as mosaics, as well as a center pool to collect rainwater. While the atrium’s function has changed, it still remains the focal point of many Eichler homes.   

 The atrium at 728 Gailen Ave. provides a private outdoor space ideal for entertaining or as a childrens’ play space.  A Fuchsia color bougainvillea blossoms within and a vivid green philodendron add an exotic accent, bringing  the outdoors inside. The modern roofline of 728 Gailen Ave. facilitates this blend as the bougainvillea climbs toward the sky, drawing the eye up and out of the enclosure to the mature trees beyond. The atrium thus becomes a space for relaxation, a foyer and a colorful centerpiece to the home.  
Eichler E-21 floorplan Meadow Park Neighborhood Palo Alto CA

Excellent Atrium Entry Floorplan: Pinnacle of Eichler design

The Eichler E-21 floor plan is the mirror of the E-11 plan.  The atrium entrance at the center of the home provides ample natural light throughout the interior. No lights need to be turned on during the day. The office/bedroom has an Atrium entry making it ideal for those who work out of their home but still need to have client meetings.

As Eichler worked with a number of architects, the styles of several designers influenced Eichler homes. Anshen, for instance, drew heavily from Wright’s designs. The clean lines of the low roof and supporting beams at 728 Gailen Ave. reflect a Japanese influence.  

 The simple elegance of Eichlers such as 728 Gailen Ave. allows them to be tailored to suit the owners’ preferences and tastes.  The atrium can be adapted through landscaping to accentuate a style of décor, highlighting regional or period influences. This flexibility of design is consistent with Eichler’s vision of a home with multifunctional spaces, and is one reason why his homes continue to be highly desirable.

Aug
10

728 Gailen Avenue: The epitome of Eichler style and function

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Eichler Homes, Palo Alto Real Estate

In 1950, Joseph Eichler’s company Eichler Homes embarked on a mission to bring modern architecture to suburban America. By 1974, Palo Alto featured a number of fine Eichler houses. Many of these Palo Alto properties have been preserved and continue to be wonderful family homes.

Intended to be part of inclusive and diverse communities, Eichler developments were designed to have homes consistent in appearance and sharing similar floor plans. Marked by defining features such as a single-story overlay, radiant heating, atrium and utilization of natural light, Eichlers blend indoors with outdoors and exude a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Built in 1958, the 4-bedroom, 2-bath home at 728 Gailen Ave. in Meadow Park neighborhood is a picture-perfect example of a Palo Alto Eichler home, showcasing characteristics of Eichler style.

  • ‘Moderate modernism’: Nestled on a cul-de-sac of Eichler houses, one might miss the demure façade of 728 Gailen Ave., were it not for the eye-catching contrast of a white door and trim on its deep sage exterior. The interior of the house is marked by a similar simplicity of line, imbued with pleasing details such as open wood beams spanning the great room and living room that make the space feel clean without feeling sterile.
  • Blending indoors and outdoors: As is characteristic of many Palo Alto Eichlers, the front entry of 728 Gailen Ave. opens onto the atrium, an open-air courtyard encased by the house. Ideal for evening entertaining in the spring and summer (or even in California fall and winter), the atrium provides a private, intimate space while maintaining an outdoor atmosphere. Large glass windows were used in Eichler’s designs to allow natural light to illuminate the indoor space and make the interior appear even more spacious.
  • Natural light: The technique of using floor-to-ceiling windows to provide light is an Eichler characteristic used freely in the Gailen Ave. home.  The atrium is surrounded on three sides by large glass panels, which, in conjunction with the great room/kitchen windows, fill the home with a warm luminance. Tall, narrow windows along the cul-de-sac admit light but preserve privacy.
  • Multifunctionality of space: In keeping with Eichler’s ideal of utility in design, the 1,845-sq-ft floor plan of 728 Gailen Ave. is such that the bedrooms lie on one side of the house with living and dining rooms on the other, united by a shared great room and kitchen. The floorplan is dynamic in that rooms could be repurposed to fit the varying needs of its owners. For instance, the bedroom at the front of the Gailen Ave. home is ideal for repurposing as an office, as its location and sliding glass door make it accessible from the atrium. This might allow this room to be functionally separate from the rest of the home.
  • Privacy: Eichler homes find a wonderful balance between openness and privacy. Although large windows and glass appear throughout the homes, Eichler was attentive to the need for privacy, demonstrated in his designs. Active living spaces are arranged toward the rear of the home. The atrium also serves as a buffer between the front entry and the rest of the interior.

In addition to these characteristics, 728 Gailen Ave. is further distinguished by its large lot; the house sits on a cul-de-sac abutting other cul-de-sacs, creating a wedge-shaped lot. The floor plan of the house was ‘flipped’ at the request of the original (and only) owner to maximize use of the space. As a result, the home enjoys a spacious, contiguous backyard and side garden with space enough to add a pool, sport court or home addition.

Although located on a low-traffic cul-de-sac in a tranquil neighborhood, 728 Gailen Ave. is by no means isolated. It is within walking distance of Charleston Shopping Center, which features a Peet’s Coffee and Tea and Piazza’s Fine Foods. Mitchell Park and Library and schools such as Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School are also easily accessible.

This post is intended to give you a little taste of this wonderful Eichler home in Palo Alto. Following posts in the series will delve further into Eichler’s design influences; the Meadow Park neighborhood and community; and what makes an Eichler house a home.

Jul
9

Eichler Homes in Palo Alto – Unique in History and Design

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Eichler Homes

After World War II, there was a high demand for homes in America for the many newly formed and growing families in our nation. The solution to this problem by most home developers was to quickly produce large tracts of duplicated housing.  These homes were often cheap in materials, hurried in production and unoriginal in design.

There was an exception to this, however.  In Northern California there was a real-estate developer who had a radically different concept of what the mid-century tract home and neighborhood should provide, while still being affordable to the average American family.   This developer’s name was Joseph Eicler, and his vision of standards, combined with his company, Eichler Homes, changed and shaped the face of houses in the Bay Area and residential American architecture forever.

 

This will be a series of articles about these award-winning, period homes, known to most simply as ‘Eichlers’, so unique and recognizable is their design.  Many of the features that make these houses uniquely Eichler cannot be reproduced in new construction today, due to materials and lot availability, and today’s coding and building regulations.  These remaining, artistically beautiful homes, truly are, the last of their kind.

 

The Eichler AtriumAn exceptional Eichler home in Palo Alto, maintained in it’s original beauty by it’s sole owner, will be coming onto market and listed by Anne Arjani in mid-September.

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