Editorial Review:
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.
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Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
Eichler Style is Classic  2007-04-11
I have been looking for as much information as I can on Eichler houses and this was a real find. It not only provided me the fundamental information I had been searching for but surprised me with wonderful photos, including the very house that I want to build. The only problem I have now is trying to find contractor willing to provide a contemporary interpretation.
Very Good 2006-12-07
This is the first book on Eichler, and it does an admirable job of getting the topic out there. The good part is that there are plenty of color photos and the book is very well desgined. The not-so-good part is that many of the homes pictured are remodeled and don't truly represent the original designs. The text is by 4 different authors and doesn't hold together well as a complete narrative. Still, if you are relatively new to Eichler this is a nice browsing book that will give you plenty of visual stimulation. For the definitive historical tome on the Eichler story, get "Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream" by Adamson which is more complete and scholarly but not as visual and colorful. The two books actually make a good set and give you both sides of the story. In all, this is a very good book about beautiful and innovative homes by an important midcentury homebuilder and businessman.
A great book that, like Eichler homes,will never go out of style. 2006-02-24
As a fan of Mid-century modern and Eichler homes,I loved the many photographs in this book.I believe this book would be a good reference for anyone who owns an Eichler home or someone who wants to achieve a modern look in or outside their home.
Simplistic, self-serving and not very good  2005-10-21
Being a real fan of the "Eichler Home" architectural style, I was excited to recive this book. After a quick read, I felt that it was a waste of time and money.
First, the narrator (who is Mr. Eichler's son) skims over the architectural concepts that embody the Eichler Home concept. And this from an architect! The design elements of the home are covered so quickly, with practically no details, that this book will be useless to anybody wanting to use this as a teaching aid, reference text, or just to get a better appreciation of how these homes were designed.
The author also spends an inordinate and oddly placed amount of time to describe how magnimonius Mr. Eichler was to sell homes to African Americans, unlike the trend at the time. Unfortunately the author's claims are not borne out by my personal experience in looking through the housing covenants of an Eichler Home in Mountain View that date to the early 60's, which specifically stated that the home would not be sold to people of colour. Nice retrospective attempt at social equality, but the treatement of that sad portion of America's history is treated in a white-washed derisitory fashion by the author.
And the book ends with a weird comparison of Mr. Eichler to other property development tycoons, including Donald Trump, with the conclusion that the brave Mr. Eichler rose above the greed and vanity of the rest.
This is a simplistic, self-serving, useless book. Look elsewhere.
The photography and interior shots are good.
I never get tired of this book. 2001-10-14
I agree with the other reviewers' comments about the excellence of the Eichler homes and this book. I have many design books, but I keep coming back to this one and never tire of the clean, modern--but not cold--design. I wish Ditto, et al. would produce a video on the subject.
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