Eichler Homes: Design for Living [Hardcover]

Jerry Ditto (Author), Lanning Stern (Author), Marvin Wax (Photographer), Sally B. Woodbridge (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1995

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jerry Ditto is an Eichler Homes realtor.

Lanning Stern is an associate professor of graphic design at San Jose State University.

Marvin Wax is a photographer, designer, and former professor of graphic design.

Sally B. Woodbridge is an architectural historian and the editor or author of numerous books on architecture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; 1ST edition (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811808467
• ISBN-13: 978-0811808460
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 11.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book to keep going back to again and again, December 13, 2000

By 

"velour" (Tiburon, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eichler Homes: Design for Living (Hardcover)

I refer back to this book several times a year. It's a great introduction to Joseph Eichler and what he accomplished, through his ideal of a modern home for the masses. Some of the homes in this book are truly dream houses for any modern architecture fan. The book isn't full of photos dating from the late 50's/early 60's as one might expect - it's mostly later day photos of beautiful Eichler homes with excellent interior design. For me, this was the only weak point of the book, and why I couldn't give it five stars. I would have enjoyed seing more period photos of the homes, to try and see what the original owners saw when they purchased their homes. I realize that Jerry Ditto et al had to make a hard choice in this regard, and they chose to go with beautiful photos from the current day. After reading this book, you will yearn for your own Eichler, and wonder why more modern homes haven't been designed since. You'll see that Joseph Eichler and his ideas were 50 years ahead of their time, with many of the items found in his homes just now coming into play. A great book for any fan of modern single-dwelling architectue, and a must have for any Eichler owner.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique Record of Seminal California Architecture, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eichler Homes: Design for Living (Hardcover)

This simple and striking coffee table book documents the obssessive Joseph Eichler and the uniquely Californian homes he built from the late 1940s through the 1960s.

Perhaps the only mass produced tract homes which have ever been truly architected, the Eichler home is documented well in pictures and words. It's all here - from the simple facades, the post and beam construction, the evolution of the atriums, the carefully chosen materials and hand-mixed paints, to his failed experiments with steel, and finally, unique modernizations.

The book could be improved with the addition of a complete list of all the Eichler developments.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Eichler Book, April 4, 2000

By 

Roel Kuiper (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eichler Homes: Design for Living (Hardcover)

If you are an Eichler fan, an Eichler owner, or are just interested in studying mid-century modern architecture built for the middle class, this book is a must-have. Filled with color photographs of many different Eichler homes in Northern and Southern CA, and drawings of layouts by architectural teams such as Anshen & Allen and Jones & Emmons, this book tells the story of Joseph Eichler as told by his son. I have actually never come across any other books on Eichler, so this is the one to have thus far.