JOSEPH EICHLER (1900-1974)

Joseph Eichler was a residential real estate developer known for building homes in the Modernist style. Between 1950 and 1974, Eichler Homes built over 11,000 homes known as "Eichlers" and changed the California lifestyle. During this period Eichler became one of the nation's most influential builders of modern homes.

Unlike many developers of the day, Joseph Eichler was a social visionary and commissioned designs primarily for middle-class Americans. One of his stated aims was to construct inclusive and diverse planned communities, ideally featuring integrated parks and community centers. Eichler, unlike most builders at the time, established a non-discrimination policy and offered homes for sale to anyone of any religion or race. In 1958, he resigned from the National Association of Home Builders when they refused to support a non-discrimination policy.

Eichler used well-known architects to design both the site plans and the homes themselves. He hired Frank Lloyd Wright disciple Robert Anshen of Anshen & Allen to design the initial  Eichlers, and the first prototypes were built in 1949. In later years, other Eichler homes by other architects emerged, including homes designed by the San Francisco firm Claude Oakland & Associates, the Los Angeles firm of Jones & Emmons, A. Quincy Jones, and Raphael Soriano.

Eichler homes are from a branch of Modernist architecture that has come to be known as "California Modern," and typically feature glass walls, post-and-beam construction and open floorplans.

1968 - There is an Eichler house at 6801 Justice Drive in Raleigh. Perhaps the only Eichler in Raleigh.   Owned by Lee Tripi.  Interior photos by Lee Tripi.