Aging in Eichler

Joseph Eichler was a post-war real estate developer who changed the landscape of residential subdivisions in California with his Mid-century tract housing. He made modern homes available to the general public and one of his stated aims was “to construct inclusive and diverse communities.”

His homes have become a symbol of “California Modern” and I have been intrigued by them for years, after researching a story for Architect magazine. While they are loved for their modernism and manner of “bringing the outside in,” I recently realized many are also a great example of Universal Design. Eichlers are single-story, built with a level, or near-grade, entrances, and their open floor plans allow for easy mobility throughout the home. With these features, along with their modest size, they also seem to be wonderful homes in which to age in place. This article, from the Eichler Network, is a great read and delves in more.