Eichler Homes: Trendy or Timeless?

When it comes to personal style, trends can work wonders. They may inspire your aesthetic, tempting you to revamp the tried and true with the brave or bold. If you grow tired of the trend in question, you can always donate your once chic but suddenly shabby threads, or toss the outdated and over-worn shoes.  What about when it comes to buying a trendy home? How can you be sure you won’t get sick of your abode within a few years, or know if potential buyers will still want to set foot near your designer digs once the fad begins to fade? Many a Californian might have already grappled with this decision when thinking about purchasing an Eichler home. While a good portion of California residents think that Eichler homes are timeless, others believe that they are just a trend, and in more extreme cases, one that should have faded long before the start of the twenty first century. With such opposing views on this particular statement style of homebuilding, one also has to wonder what effect Eichler’s name has on property values.

There is no question that the name Eichler is synonymous with Californian residential architecture. In fact, Eichler’s designs have come to be known by the namesake of the land itself, “California Modern.” In many parts of this sunny state, it’s impossible to walk down the street without passing an Eichler (or Eichler inspired) home. Joseph Eichler, the man behind the sleek lined residences and their simple forms, was a post-war real estate developer who began designing mid-century modern style subdivisions in the 1950s. Between the years of 1950 to 1974, Eichler built more than 11,000 homes and to this day remains a household name as one of the most famous real estate developers of the twentieth century.

To know that people still covet his uniquely inspired homes may not come as a surprise. However, not only are Eichler inspired homes still adored for their historical importance, they also continue to be used as a template in some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in California including San Mateo, Redwood City, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and of course, Palo Alto.  Here in Palo Alto, there is even a swim club built in honor of Eichler, and Edgewood Plaza, a recently revamped commercial center was constructed to “emphasize its Eichler characteristics,” reports the Mercury News.

Despite all the continued enthusiasm that surrounds Eichler, there are definite drawbacks. Many of the heating systems are pricey and the slab foundation structures are difficult to repair and costly. For others, it’s a matter of taste. The modernist look seems dated, with little room for change. In certain neighborhoods in Palo Alto that feature a majority of Eichler homes  there are single story overlays, preventing owners from building a second story. This could potentially stifle appreciation of home values over time.

Steve Jobs is known to have attributed his aesthetic sense to growing up in an Eichler home. He said, as a boy it gave him a nascent appreciation for clean design and simple taste, a recipe that has proven to be more than successful for Jobs and Eichler alike. While detractors of Eichler do have their reasoning, I have to side with Steve Jobs on this one (though it’s worth noting that although Jobs thought he grew up in an Eichler home, it was later proven that the architecture was only inspired by Eichler). Not only is Eichler's design sleek, but it was, and continues to be, innovative.  In my opinion, “bringing the outside in” was not just a trendy desire, but rather a timeless goal that no Californian architect can refuse. While some people might not appreciate certain Eichler quirks, I say that floor to ceiling windows, multiple outdoor areas, spacious rooms, and the integrated flow from the interior to the exterior far surpass the drawbacks, making his style no longer merely trendy;  it’s also tried and true.

If you are interested in checking out some Eichler homes, take a look at this Redfin Featured Collection of Eichler homes that are currently on the market or have sold recently.