Eichler Homes: Design For Living

Debonair gentleman, devoted husband, and ambitious businessman, Joseph Eichler began Eichler Homes with no previous design experience, only a love of contemporary architecture. Already in his late forties, he was able to turn his small firm into one of the most prodigious post-World War II building companies in America. With the help of architect Bob Anshen, Eichler found a way to mass-produce affordable, practical homes with a designer feel. Based on numerous models, each under $10,000, the homes began to sell wildly in Northern California. As the demand grew, so did the houses, and soon they included four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a family room, as well as Eichler's signature glass walls, post-and-beam structures, and front door atriums. With over 100 color and black-and-white photographs of the various models and essays by architectural expert Sally Woodbridge and Joe Eichler's son, Ned, Eichler Homes paints the poignant picture of an extraordinary businessman, a father-son relationship unfortunately marred by company politics, and the rise and fall of a unique postwar business that continues to inspire architects and designers everywhere.

More than a modern-day success story, Joseph Eichler changed the face of American architecture by creating the ultimate, affordable family home. Now, nearly 50 years after the phenomenon of the Eichler home, once a quintessential symbol of the American Dream, this beautifully illustrated volume chronicles both the success and ultimate demise of a legendary company. With over 100 full-color photographs of the homes' various models, as well as an introduction by architectural expert Sally B. Woodbridge and an essay by Eichler's son Ned, "Eichler Homes" tells the poignant story of a unique post-war business, and of a singular vision and unforgettable legacy that continue to inspire architects and designers around the world.