JOSEPH L. EICHLER (1900-1974)

There are a lot of houses called "Eichlers" by realtors. Eichler officially was only the developer for houses built in California and New York. Anything else is a copy; perhaps great workmanship, but still not the real thing. Therefore, any houses listed outside of California and Chestnut Ridge NY (and new ones developed by Monique Lombardelli) cannot be considered true Eichlers. The Bronx-born New York City native moved to the West Coast in 1940 where he worked as an executive in his family's wholesale dairy business. In his mid-40s, he found himself in need of a job when the dairy closed. He rented Frank Lloyd Wright's Bazett House. Inspired, he became a residential real estate developer known for building homes in the Modernist style. Between 1950 and 1974, he built over 11,000 homes in California (and three in Chestnut Ridge NY) which became known as Eichlers. He became one of the nation's most influential builders.

Unlike many architects and developers, Eichler was a social visionary and commissioned designs primarily for middle-class Americans. One of his goals was building inclusive and diverse communities, ideally featuring integrated parks and community centers. He 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 that policy.

Eichler homes typically feature glass walls, post-and-beam construction and open floorplans. Eichler used Frank Lloyd Wright student Robert Anshen of Anshen & Allen to design the initial Eichler homes built in 1949. The majority of his project designs were by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons. He also hired architects Raphael Soriano and Claude Oakland. His records are at the Berkeley Environmental Design Archives. The Eichlers of that era that we know about are listed by the architect on those respective pages.

In 2014, developer Monique Lombardelli (later Anton) revived the Eichler line with two houses in Palm Springs. Working with the Berkeley Environmental Design Archives, developer Troy Kudlac starting building more Eichler houses in Palm Springs CA starting around 2018.

Around 2016 - aka Desert Eichler 1, 800 East Bogert Trail, Palm Springs CA. Photos by Darren Bradley.

Around 2016 - aka Desert Eichler 2, 426 East Sonora Road, Palm Springs CA. Developed by Monique Lombardelli Anton. Built from Claude Oakland's plan MS234.

Around 2016 - aka Desert Eichler 3, 402 East Sonora Road, Palm Springs CA.  Developed by Monique Lombardelli Anton. Built from Anshen+Allen's plan ATH-7.  Photos by Fred Moser.

aka Desert Eichler 4, 398 East Sonora Road, Palm Springs CA.

aka Desert Eichler 5, 364 East Sonora Road, Palm Springs CA.

aka Desert Eichler 6, 342 East Sonora Road, Palm Springs CA.

aka Desert Eichler 7, 191 East Morongo Road, Palm Springs CA.

aka Desert Eichler 8, 36668 Palm View, Rancho Mirage CA.

aka Desert Eichler 9, 7415 Island Queen, Sparks NV.

2023 - aka Desert Eichler 10, 72385 Cholla Drive, Palm aka Desert CA. Built from Claude Oakland's plan SV54. Developed by Troy Kudlac. For sale in 2023.

2023 - aka Desert Eichler 11, 75540 Fairway Drive, Indian Wells CA. Developed by Troy Kudlac.

2023 - aka Desert Eichler 12, 45850 Williams Road, Indian Wells CA. Developed by Troy Kudlac.

Sources include: Monique Lombardelli Anton, Troy Kudlac.