Sunnyvale Eichler Homes
While Palo Alto has more Eichler homes that any other city in the Bay Area, Sunnyvale is considered to be the home of the Eichler as it was the place where Joseph Eichler first began building his distinctive California Modern homes. Sunnyvale Eichlers are spread throughout the city – some in larger neighborhoods that include Fairwood, Fairbrae, Rancho Verde and Sunnyvale Manor II/Sunnyvale Manor Addition. Many of the Eichler homes in Sunnyvale, however, are in modest to small size tracts – ranging from Rancho San Souci, Primewood, and Parmer Place with 30-40 homes to the dozen or so Eichlers found in Midtown and Fairpark.
As his first venture into real estate development in 1949, Joseph Eichler built a few homes on lots scattered throughout the Sunnyvale Manor I neighborhood. These homes bear little resemblance to what has come to be known as “The Eichler”. In 1950, the first Eichlers to be designed by an architect (Robert Anshen) were built in Sunnyvale Manor II / Sunnyvale Manor Addition and the Eichler tradition of California Modern architecture was born. Eichler continued to build homes in Sunnyvale for more than 20 years, using designs by Anshen + Allen, Jones & Emmons, and Claude Oakland.
Today, the city of Sunnyvale has created special Eichler Design Guidelines that apply to several Eichler neighborhoods, including Midtown, Parmer Place, Rancho Verde, Fairbrae, Primewood, Fairorchard, Rancho Sans Souci, Fairwood, Fairwood Addition, and Fairpark Addition. While not intended to be restrictive, these guidelines are in place to help residents preserve the Eichler character of their neighborhoods when planning remodels or renovations.
As a note of interest: Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, is quoted as saying the Sunnyvale Eichler he grew up in “was my favorite home ever.”
Sunnyvale Eichlers – Fast Facts
Eichler Homes Built: 1100 Year(s) Built: 1949 - 1973
Architect(s): Anshen + Allen; Claude Oakland; Jones & Emmons
Sunnyvale Eichlers for Sale
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