The URL can be used to link to this page

02090113or r i sen..�O. or automated CITYBUILD? G DIVISION CONTRACTOR INFORMATION: PERMIT B�f1YD14NG?ffARGROVE DR ABLE ROOFING INC. PERMIT T*PPL1"XIAN L AND CLAUDIA M 1420-B CONCORD AVE APPLICATION PHONE: SANITARY NO. CONTROL NO. (925)689-8558 ZO ARCHITECT/ENGIN "ER: BUILDING PERMIT INFO BLDG ELECT PLUMB MECH 6 z, LICENSED CONTRACTOR'S DECLARATION JO Description I hereby affirm that I am licensed under provisions of Chapter 9 (commencing P wim Septmn nine Dmixron3anne Bax�npx an-efProrrexxmnxende,G/amy panxe INSTALL DI: & A C ,5 Leefull adeffect /J / f�9N�9Jam,�je•j Licenx ss r.`s� Lc p J bb saw . Dam �+ CNITER'S DEtyutAT10N J I undersmnd my plans sM1ull be used as public .sheds ' o Licensed Professional I�C�tI U 1 2002 OWNER -BUILDER DECLARATION m I hemby affirm that 1 am exempt from the Com actor's License law for the Gfollowing ream..IS.it1 ]03L5,Business and ve deionsCodc:Anycity mcoune BUILDING $16000 which ns ooton peonit m ene the aper, improve, demolish, nr..ir any worm. - -prior tons shaeissons ntfar suchratois 51 Liconso Law sea,amens- �,s�a --.- - that eefkli«b9?d pulxupntmNk ptdvitlons of,hc Contractors Littnu law (Chap,cr9' .+-,' ,, 3.7" S�SL.Orr l,we..,a N. .+?, .,, -. - -Valuation fcom,nercingwiN Secpan]d0ol ofDivi:inn Sof Ne Bminesp and Professions Codc)' t k.\llix. a osis>J.."YVtiL.wic'�r{A(\' or 11. heli exempt ,be.froln'and the basis for the alleged eknop,iun. Any violation ' t -of Section 9031.5 by any applicant for a permit subjects the applicant to a civil penalty nrnntmnrcNamrvenanareaeagars(ssdol. 204ARNMDMFLOOR F ME'Iarr'l;'::'3 Occupancy Type 01, m owner of she pros m my employees with wages as their sole Compensation, 301 - ROUGH PLUMBING av, o-,, a"work,-anal ,i.h, ase: Th is nbf intended d or License Law apply to ad 303 - ROUGH ME�/.� t Busiheis`abd•Profeszions Code: The Contractors License taw d«x not apply ,o an 4ACt10nS'f'-`• `- Owner of progeny, Who builds or improves thereon, and who does such words himself 304 - ROUGH ELECTRICAL or th gh his ovevicees provides Nat, lu mpmvememc are not intended or :offered compx I,lthnwever the boldin%- P mroin -sold wenn not rcar'of----'------505*----.....FINAL_..ELECTRICAL; v.i .a: :.. ..... completion. for Nc owner bonder will have the burden of proving Na, he did not butlJ or imv.m for purpose of solei). 507 - FINAL PLUMBING ' : O1:esownerofrbepr rty.amexclusivelycomm'ctingwidnliceneedCotrannmro License Law projeo Business and P.fexho builds cneeamprves Ton Imm:a 514 - FINAL PUBLIC WORKS:' p, - uml,h Law daps not apply -i an Owner of properly who busies or improves Nt.dic, `. _Co who_comsacu.fur-such.Pmjam wiN.a conmanorts7.1¢enwl.Pursuant.m.Ne. - Comracmis License Law.Fs s'r,.: ;: ••.•.�:'. :T :'_. l' ti ❑lam coni unJer Sec ":B&PC for this reasono 11 :'1} ); :,�f;n+ill❑ WORKER'S COMPENSATION DECLARATION '�,'i •:. tl hereby a0irm under-peml,y of perlury On c of in following declarations:— ❑ 1 he6c aria will'mainsain'a'Ciihificam-of Conon,'to self -roar. for Worker's Compensation, as, provided for by Section 3]OU of the Labor Code, for the performinee of Nd work for which this permit is issued. ,_ j. ❑ I have hod will' mainuin Worker's Compensation Ii main as required by Section 17.00 of the Libor Gide, for the pekorima ce of the work for which his permit is ism J My Workers ' C pe s i 1 ora e carrier and Pol cy « ' �T ivi ERTIFICATION OF,EXE NFROM wORKHRSf -_ � 1i ' # .+-14. I A,_ }.1 .aj ..t lr.- Av `i;: i A't,i I. Lr- •I d' 41 -' COMPENSATION INSURANCE'" ^"''(This�iec�Lm aced not bc�cnmpleied if the permit is for one hundred dollars I$10(i less.) ,s.'ha al en fyyhrnesan in an oors k6b LhN object to t_'. s. d 1 sit II m ploy any Anon n any mariner so as in become subfen m the Workers : ' - 'gorrin. laws of California. Dam ` NOTICE TO APPLICANT: If aft rvwk gth C taco. fE ,pt on'yau.ho,ilJ,' _, , � n«'me sublcn to Nd Worker.0 i,pcnet p 3bf th L&er Cede. you moa. �. fonhwlN comely with soap provixiore or this perms, shall be Jecmee revoked. ! yCONSTRUCTIONLENDING AGENCY "' "' ,_rI' [. . m 1 hereby Yarm Na pe , n o I 7. Cis, n Y f Nd performance ,'„ r ,r . � 'of to kf 'which ,h permit 'issued (S '3(19] C.C) � - a 1 ccnify thin 1 have neuritis application and state bulk above information is correct. 1 agrte to Curt y, with all city and county nrdidai and gam laws relining 'no builJing constmnion, and heresy SmM1oriae'rtprcncnmtivexoT this city. enmr.", sI' she above-mentioned properly for inspection purposes. y (N'el hgrce io sa'velindemnify and keep harmless She City of penino against � nab I'i e I dgmenu, ensu arM genus h ch may any y e < against said i - City neo uquen<e oath g nY gof,h / "[/ 'APPI CAKTUNTIERSTA\DSA DWILLCOMPLY WITH ALL M1Oh:yfJ'NT'' / 97,0 Issued by;LAsu— Date s t fAPPLonUCon ,a _, , . "' ;Dae Re -roofs ' p -p; HAZARDOUS MATERIALS,DISCLOSURE .- ,,. W 11 r« app) n , fuwrc bu icing xt m «,ear Ile narallo x num al Type of Roof__... _ _ _ zdefncd byth Cpcn no Mu iPaIC Ch p, 912adNcH IN ndS fry � _�� - - " CPJe Ski n255J�)l i , 4} �f ae - Ii`, - IJ,;I Rt,.tl ,l, ✓ I(,, All roofs shall be inspected pnor.[o.any roofing.matenal being installed._____.. wRm vel t bile l toequ p e when If a roof is installed without first obtainingan ins ectloD, •Pa feeato remove _ ht d oro df ❑by theBay Area QualityMnagm t P g YCC- - , all newmaterialsfor inspection Applicant understands and will comply with all`non- olnt sourceiegulahons c p Its. rdo i m sun rcqu a is do Ch p, 695of the C i ! h Safety Cad 5 tom 5505 25533 and 355]3 I d rsand that ' ilNe nods, doe to tlyhac tenatN,t yrcpb blryt notify NeT '" - - '�q - - 7 �) -_ a rein t rcment 1,ch imus, be , p m is c of CeniOcm of \G(� C O?!l/t- F �� / •' �Z cmr x IN&s' 02 S!gnatureofA Applicant _ p qm % PP_ agent _._.�... ..__..._._-'OFFICE- All roof coverings to be Class "B" or 6ettei - ' Date or r i sen..�O. or automated CITYBUILD? G DIVISION CONTRACTOR INFORMATION: PERMIT B�f1YD14NG?ffARGROVE DR ABLE ROOFING INC. PERMIT T*PPL1"XIAN L AND CLAUDIA M 1420-B CONCORD AVE APPLICATION PHONE: SANITARY NO. CONTROL NO. (925)689-8558 ZO ARCHITECT/ENGIN "ER: BUILDING PERMIT INFO BLDG ELECT PLUMB MECH 6 z, LICENSED CONTRACTOR'S DECLARATION JO Description I hereby affirm that I am licensed under provisions of Chapter 9 (commencing P wim Septmn nine Dmixron3anne Bax�npx an-efProrrexxmnxende,G/amy panxe INSTALL DI: & A C ,5 Leefull adeffect /J / f�9N�9Jam,�je•j Licenx ss r.`s� Lc p J bb saw . Dam �+ CNITER'S DEtyutAT10N J I undersmnd my plans sM1ull be used as public .sheds ' o Licensed Professional I�C�tI U 1 2002 OWNER -BUILDER DECLARATION m I hemby affirm that 1 am exempt from the Com actor's License law for the Gfollowing ream..IS.it1 ]03L5,Business and ve deionsCodc:Anycity mcoune BUILDING $16000 which ns ooton peonit m ene the aper, improve, demolish, nr..ir any worm. - -prior tons shaeissons ntfar suchratois 51 Liconso Law sea,amens- �,s�a --.- - that eefkli«b9?d pulxupntmNk ptdvitlons of,hc Contractors Littnu law (Chap,cr9' .+-,' ,, 3.7" S�SL.Orr l,we..,a N. .+?, .,, -. - -Valuation fcom,nercingwiN Secpan]d0ol ofDivi:inn Sof Ne Bminesp and Professions Codc)' t k.\llix. a osis>J.."YVtiL.wic'�r{A(\' or 11. heli exempt ,be.froln'and the basis for the alleged eknop,iun. Any violation ' t -of Section 9031.5 by any applicant for a permit subjects the applicant to a civil penalty nrnntmnrcNamrvenanareaeagars(ssdol. 204ARNMDMFLOOR F ME'Iarr'l;'::'3 Occupancy Type 01, m owner of she pros m my employees with wages as their sole Compensation, 301 - ROUGH PLUMBING av, o-,, a"work,-anal ,i.h, ase: Th is nbf intended d or License Law apply to ad 303 - ROUGH ME�/.� t Busiheis`abd•Profeszions Code: The Contractors License taw d«x not apply ,o an 4ACt10nS'f'-`• `- Owner of progeny, Who builds or improves thereon, and who does such words himself 304 - ROUGH ELECTRICAL or th gh his ovevicees provides Nat, lu mpmvememc are not intended or :offered compx I,lthnwever the boldin%- P mroin -sold wenn not rcar'of----'------505*----.....FINAL_..ELECTRICAL; v.i .a: :.. ..... completion. for Nc owner bonder will have the burden of proving Na, he did not butlJ or imv.m for purpose of solei). 507 - FINAL PLUMBING ' : O1:esownerofrbepr rty.amexclusivelycomm'ctingwidnliceneedCotrannmro License Law projeo Business and P.fexho builds cneeamprves Ton Imm:a 514 - FINAL PUBLIC WORKS:' p, - uml,h Law daps not apply -i an Owner of properly who busies or improves Nt.dic, `. _Co who_comsacu.fur-such.Pmjam wiN.a conmanorts7.1¢enwl.Pursuant.m.Ne. - Comracmis License Law.Fs s'r,.: ;: ••.•.�:'. :T :'_. l' ti ❑lam coni unJer Sec ":B&PC for this reasono 11 :'1} ); :,�f;n+ill❑ WORKER'S COMPENSATION DECLARATION '�,'i •:. tl hereby a0irm under-peml,y of perlury On c of in following declarations:— ❑ 1 he6c aria will'mainsain'a'Ciihificam-of Conon,'to self -roar. for Worker's Compensation, as, provided for by Section 3]OU of the Labor Code, for the performinee of Nd work for which this permit is issued. ,_ j. ❑ I have hod will' mainuin Worker's Compensation Ii main as required by Section 17.00 of the Libor Gide, for the pekorima ce of the work for which his permit is ism J My Workers ' C pe s i 1 ora e carrier and Pol cy « ' �T ivi ERTIFICATION OF,EXE NFROM wORKHRSf -_ � 1i ' # .+-14. I A,_ }.1 .aj ..t lr.- Av `i;: i A't,i I. Lr- •I d' 41 -' COMPENSATION INSURANCE'" ^"''(This�iec�Lm aced not bc�cnmpleied if the permit is for one hundred dollars I$10(i less.) ,s.'ha al en fyyhrnesan in an oors k6b LhN object to t_'. s. d 1 sit II m ploy any Anon n any mariner so as in become subfen m the Workers : ' - 'gorrin. laws of California. Dam ` NOTICE TO APPLICANT: If aft rvwk gth C taco. fE ,pt on'yau.ho,ilJ,' _, , � n«'me sublcn to Nd Worker.0 i,pcnet p 3bf th L&er Cede. you moa. �. fonhwlN comely with soap provixiore or this perms, shall be Jecmee revoked. ! yCONSTRUCTIONLENDING AGENCY "' "' ,_rI' [. . m 1 hereby Yarm Na pe , n o I 7. Cis, n Y f Nd performance ,'„ r ,r . � 'of to kf 'which ,h permit 'issued (S '3(19] C.C) � - a 1 ccnify thin 1 have neuritis application and state bulk above information is correct. 1 agrte to Curt y, with all city and county nrdidai and gam laws relining 'no builJing constmnion, and heresy SmM1oriae'rtprcncnmtivexoT this city. enmr.", sI' she above-mentioned properly for inspection purposes. y (N'el hgrce io sa'velindemnify and keep harmless She City of penino against � nab I'i e I dgmenu, ensu arM genus h ch may any y e < against said i - City neo uquen<e oath g nY gof,h / "[/ 'APPI CAKTUNTIERSTA\DSA DWILLCOMPLY WITH ALL M1Oh:yfJ'NT'' / 97,0 Issued by;LAsu— Date s t fAPPLonUCon ,a _, , . "' ;Dae Re -roofs ' p -p; HAZARDOUS MATERIALS,DISCLOSURE .- ,,. W 11 r« app) n , fuwrc bu icing xt m «,ear Ile narallo x num al Type of Roof__... _ _ _ zdefncd byth Cpcn no Mu iPaIC Ch p, 912adNcH IN ndS fry � _�� - - " CPJe Ski n255J�)l i , 4} �f ae - Ii`, - IJ,;I Rt,.tl ,l, ✓ I(,, All roofs shall be inspected pnor.[o.any roofing.matenal being installed._____.. wRm vel t bile l toequ p e when If a roof is installed without first obtainingan ins ectloD, •Pa feeato remove _ ht d oro df ❑by theBay Area QualityMnagm t P g YCC- - , all newmaterialsfor inspection Applicant understands and will comply with all`non- olnt sourceiegulahons c p Its. rdo i m sun rcqu a is do Ch p, 695of the C i ! h Safety Cad 5 tom 5505 25533 and 355]3 I d rsand that ' ilNe nods, doe to tlyhac tenatN,t yrcpb blryt notify NeT '" - - '�q - - 7 �) -_ a rein t rcment 1,ch imus, be , p m is c of CeniOcm of \G(� C O?!l/t- F �� / •' �Z cmr x IN&s' 02 S!gnatureofA Applicant _ p qm % PP_ agent _._.�... ..__..._._-'OFFICE- sM= Mta H a a 6 ELo5 Hs yay�x�a 16�ce r1 CITY OF CUPERTINO" ' BUILDING DIVISION p T 'CONTRACTOR INFO ATION:. B DNO RPMGROVE DR ABLE ROOFING INC. PERMIT NO.02090113 T'Ek"ALAN L AND CLAUDIA M 1420-B CONCORD AVE APPUAAnDN USDA 09%s172002 1 PHONE •(925)689-8558 SANITARY NO. CONTROL NO. ARCHITEC (ENGINEER: BUILDING PERMIT INFO BLDG ELECT PLUMB MECH LJ f__I L_I L_> LICENSED CONTRACTORS DECLARATION 1 hereby affirm that I ah licensed under provisions of Chapter9 (commencing with Saaion Sof Ne Busrr�sand Frofesskes Code,Wmy lim. Job Description LL Q [rS�NSTA'LL tDUe?2 & A / C P WcfDiAsion m full J Imnsa .", d; 7 Z D� `mBAn N CHITECTSD MAY 0 1 2002 1 ude,med my Plans shall be usaa u public records BUILDING LeerssaA PmfCsslanol ' OWNER -BUILDER DECLARATION 1 hereby efforts Nn in 1 scorral from he Convector's Um. law for the following won. (Section 7031.5, Businessad Professions Cade: Any city or county which q.i. • permit to construct, olid, improve. demolish, or reek any structure $16000 ptiam in usvmx:a also ,gain the appixmt for such permit an filea signed stork. that lie sliimrdkd purmpmm0,e pioAsomcftne ConuscrNr L,eme Lt. (Chapter. 9 (commenpig _ y �•1,. rA,s,� _ . 3`7.W with Sm4on7000)ofDi.ision Sof Ne Business and Pmfessioro Cade) aJunhe uexam themin Nessusfar deaIle ed acro o.An Y �pdo' yviolmion 0�'.YY�rl9 iY`•a,'-': Valuation "• r ofgationTOJI3� appliand by anydreddo forapermit wbjecerNeapplinntmernil penalty ,.arnot martdem BwM1unercaa.an(ss00)' 204APNTXV]DbRFLOOR F ... E:i:r'�• ... Occupancy Type ❑Lu owner or ft pmpeny,amy employees with wa — ROUGH PLUMBINgumeirsoerompenatim301 -wilPdo mrwork'W'ma x4ucturt'ia not dea onae. Busiden end-Professloro Code: The Contractor's Lim. Law dos ora apply m an .Acer of property W W Wilds or improves thence. and who does such work himself 3 0 3 - ROUGH M �Ys��ss - --'-" - (TA Ct1Dn5 or through his own employees. provided mot such Improvements an not intended a 304 - ROUGH ELE�TRKCAL :'dRcd for'We. If,'however. the WBCrng or unpmvemhv a sold width one "' of year ' completion- she owner. W ildQ will hate the When of that he did Wilda "_. __. .. - ., ....- 505-- FINAL ELECTRICAL,-.:-.-::•:-';:-------__..........---.__.-._... ------ . proving not improve far p.,p. or cola) .. .. 507 - FINAL PLUMBING -b i:vom&ordemw-M-.-m aiaSwciy—muttrng, w5nuan'dcon use, tons io - -508 =' F3NAli MECHANICAL _._..---'-------..._.._.., mrowct On, pmt (See. 31)44, Business nod P,ofessmro Cade:) The Comrstur's Iia ¢ Law don 1)a apply to an avis of property wW Wilds or;mproms charm,. 514 — FINAL PUBLIC WORKS.: • .,• •• .. .. • •. ... • .' . -and.whn_mntncts (a such.pmjecer with a conuncta(s) licensed pursuant.m. the, Cmvactafs License law..... ...____._._.._-..._.-.._—.-.. ❑lam exempt motor See. .' .' B A P C for this rease ..., s,. _� ... oww, �.. '. .. 'Dote .. :: :.. ... .. :. .. WORKER'S COMPENSATION DECLARATION 1 hereby affirm under penalty of perjury cra a the fallowing dmLuatior. ° 1 Woe and will maintain it Ten;fic.. of Comm Yo se f.inaun in Wakes Compensation, as Political for by Section 3700 of to Labor Cade, for do, Perfonnsom or the work rot which this pem�it I, issued. ° I isin ties will m.!main Worker's Compcnistme Insurance, as,quina by Section J700 of she labor'Cksa; foi the performance of the work fa which this permit is i stood. My Worker's C pensasi'n Insumaec er ad PolAscy nurmbe(ue/' ERnE%EMPIION FROM WORKERS'' r • ` n COMPENSATION INSURANCE:'"'" (Thrs seal.. Md ho he umpim:d if the permit is for one hudrtd dolim - — -- 151001 cm ty mos n the pert. - ce of ch vork rot wh ch Nn permit is hosed. l scull not employ any percent, in any man m as to become . ..•• .. _...... , . , -- •... „ ... _. _ _ I:. , t, • I. r .:. :, .._ rubies, In the W hon C-unikrickon Laws -fCalif.ruhs. Dam : ,. 1 .. ADPL ant' _.. _ .. - ' NOTICETOAPPLICANT If after maki.,chsCmfms fEumpuon. You should become subject to the Workses Compersidiong of the Labor Code, you ust fohh ith comply with such pm cot or this permit shall tho doomed rewaked. LENDING AGENCY fwhich this them ti a counted.I d ng g w)' res she prfammati ofde Ark or which conpermit a¢wd (Sm. 707, Csv. C.)Le -i....CONSTRUCTION dersN s ._ _.. ... .. .. ..... ..... 'IadersAdrcie .. on .rid same thin the above m(omuuon is 1 emfy chin 1 hate mod con sty ce sung W Wilding W bulla 1 agree to comply with all .m end county oNinun ,. ed mos laws .... and hertbY amhaixe rcprcscmrtives ofthis city m enar upon emi.ed pr i n puryrun. che uboIWO to property strum indemnify m fy and l (We)agree co save; indemnify and whi hmmless she City of Cupertino st said liabilities.it.m jdgmems, costs ad expenw which may, in any way emue against said of th1. raming of this permit - Airy in AN'T UST.CT[DTB$TANDSA.'DWILL.CO.NPLYWITHALLNON- ^11 LND IAT R Issued. I/ y Date Re -roofs aigway.tApplrtantlCon�acmr .. '. - . ,.. .. -Dam .: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DISCLOSURE "I ma appiicam or Tum Wording arts arae ser heti haxwcdaus mmcnal u defload by me Cupcnum M rasped fh pts 9 It and tlse Health and Satery Type Of Roof - - °Yet ° Wdthe All roofs shall be inspected prior to.any roofing material being installed applicant i ra Wddin mean, rose eq ,pmant Or devices mmah emnhax6mousaireonmminvntssadef dby the Bay Area Air Quality Matugamem _ H'a roof is installed without fust obtaining - - aninspection Iagree t0 remove District? ❑ Ya n '.. all new, materials for inspection. Applicant understands and will pomply with... cell',., -point source regulations 1 haven int dm AuaMons mmerials requircmcnrs under Chapter the Celdomil Health d: Safety Coda Sections 25505 this] . ' ' and spoor 1 un no nodi that erna d ;feeentOfthe mnotify Nvaast thinitis my nuance "//r oumirsweeney he of. or peeoccpant of the rtgmimmenss which must be met prior m issuance 1)(s CcniBcae of \(� // �1'^L> (O-ii� y Signature of Applicant. , e All roof coverings to be Class x'B'• or better ow ar.mth°^ a'gem ` Date Able Roofing M. 6908-A Sierra Ct. Dublin CA 94568 Approximate Duct placement diagram I I I flat roof I All ducting will be under the new roof. Roof surface will be insulated 4' prior to roof installation & the finished R -value will be R-30. The existing roof that was removed weighed approx. 500 lbs, per square & the combined weight of the new ducting and roof system will be approx. 150 lbs. per square. The curbs will be raised with 2' x 2" lumber prior to installation of the new foam stop edge metal. (The slope of the roof will remain the same & the new A/C system will be invisible from the street or even from the roof) 1 flat • 2:12 ]HI IN ACCORDANC�WfTHE CM OF UUPERTINO COD A D ORDINANCES Fhjs spt of plansa rspalyfgl to make any (Kni as orailu it is un alteration SAMA u fti • .r tten permission from ne ounm[wg Dept., Ci�y of Cupertino. he stamping of this plan ; nd specifications SHgLL NOT be held t� pe mit or to be ar, I approval of the violati n o MT HA any City Ordinance for S ate j AWrovisiom 2:12 6itched area I I I I I g�ti��d��' (nl�lsttn A"I R f' e oo ing 6908-A Sierra Ct. Dublin CA 94568 • New pre -primed foam stop edge metal with 3/4" rise White Calcium Carbonate Granules Top Coat of Acrylic Coating Base Coat of Acrylic New Polyurethane Foam • 1 Wf(925)560-1540 ax (925) 560-1544 Raise curbs with new 2" x2" lumber Existing roof or sheeting able-roofing.com Existing Facia board S.C.L.#739624 Able Roofing7m Lic. 9739624 The Leading Eichler Roofer in the Bay Area The Eichler Specialists" • Save 30%-50% on heating/cooling *Seals All Leaks reduces ponding problems • 10 Year Warranty transferable anytime • Energy Rebates get money back on your roof www.dure-roonng.com Q 0 This Time Let Your Imagination Soar... Corr CTER C. ine Renew Your Eichler's 1 Kitchen & Bath with l� ` the Sleek, Clean Look from Canyon Creek ...Let Gilman Show You How Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry Countertops - Design Services Online at www.GilmenScreens-Kitchens.com Foster City Mountain View In 2039 W. EI Camino Real maaW C�7 650-691-6850 Q 0 This Time Let Your Imagination Soar... Corr CTER C. ine Renew Your Eichler's 1 Kitchen & Bath with l� ` the Sleek, Clean Look from Canyon Creek ...Let Gilman Show You How Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry Countertops - Design Services Online at www.GilmenScreens-Kitchens.com Foster City Mountain View 961 E. Hillsdale Blvd. 2039 W. EI Camino Real 650-286-0433 650-691-6850 SINCE 1954 +^'«71i� �'iSZTl?TS-1:1�'t7.i1 # GILMANSCREENS k& KITCHENSi} t� . Marin - Greenbrae San Francisco 2100 Redwood Hwy. 228 Bayshore Blvd. 415-927-6670 415-550-8848 REPLACEMENT O. SIDING I IIn 7I A^"' e" s /rNY. /lull lld+anq�rrt�6 sl,.f YY'.:�I `� I`E�CHL ��R�SID�1� ',NOW�HAS`i HR I rf""notlm`ateci liyou um171t„E�fl�OI{Ip��l� �ClI4r1kl'Op)a'' ��O? F�,I ' rEIPfa�I'FIdfl'i°I'I _OMEI HE GR !CE1S Wenrepa mLthrinr g,tA1dan tsettlefoskim thawdl, 1 o - _xm_ nm Elc Siding ` rPrNS 7 %�XPt 1 it Yn FoIxrl G i/ r rl u' �>�il �I�fll�le.,11„ r groove r'the past decade, Je Nichols if ErchlerSpoing � ERf SIDINGa . _1,5, 89 y i as b111�4 eerils�ergmg'sa�iiiie Elcf er owners & corit� tors. i� ai Jettnickactiell:netT' Weekl Ba10 deli- ies % '.`e3I ibVih'I$r41,” 'liG','t //Y/If �rhai n•;°I Photographer Ernie Brm*ays; That f ine Eichler design g made fascinating pictures for me!" One good reason you'll want to own a copy of Eichler, Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream Nearly 150 of Mr. Braun's classic Eichler photos showcased in this large -format new book! Modernism Rebuilds Me American Dream The definitive account of the Eichler Homes story coming in fall 2002! By Paul Adamson Marty Arbunich & Ernie Braun 250 pages - 300 photos 10.75x12.25' hard cover Published by Gibbs Smith Publisher Pre-release orders thru August get a 20% discount! Reserve your copy today at the new Eichler Network Online store at www,eichlernetwork.com... or call the Eichler Network at 415-668-0954 0& An R,M l Eli kJ J! 6 NR `SAME lust released! Five beautiful new limited -edition, 16x20 -inch, custom -framed photographs on the Eichler lifestyle from the archives of Eichler Homes original photographer extraordinaire, Ernie Braun. Now 8 signed prints available in all - each of them one of Ernie Braun's most requested images. To view a blowup of each photo, and to order, visit the Ernie Braun Hall of Frame, attached to the new Eichler Network store on Eichler Network Online: www.eichlernetwork.com. The best in Marin... and we know Eichlers! Eichler marketing specialists since 1958 Liste'For sold more than 3,O*Warin Eichler homes Lucas Vallev CatflerineMunson Properties, Inc. 415-883-0555 EXT. 19 Fax: 415-883-4063 E-mail. lucasval@ix.netcom.com JOHN O'LOUGHLIN Specializing in condominiums, co-ops, single-family homes and investments More than 20 years experience in San Francisco real estate The popular choice among sellers and buyers of Eichler's Cathedral Hill high rise and surrounding complex When you need to sell, get your Eichler a courtesy listing online through John and the Eichler Network's 'Eichlers for Sale' Office: 415-447-8800 Direct. 415-447-8833 E-mail: tracyoll @aol.com Upgrade Your Radiant Heat Boiler It's time to raise your comfort & lower your energy bills • Brands: Takagi, Munchkin, Peerless, Allied, Phase III combo and more • Radiant heat maintenance, servicing and pressure tests • Home -buyer radiant heat and steam inspections • Installation of tankless hot-water heaters • Repair of steam and hot-water boilers • Factory trained with 20+ years industry experience Rj),othe f108, Heating Service Special summer discounts on boiler replacement through August 31. For a free quote, call... 800-478-3060 License: 363485 • Bonded & Insured • E-mail: maitana@aol.com • Fax: 707.557-2377 i 91, at" are, ;ours reco I I mendat ons 97 Kitchen & bath remodelers • Cabinetry showrooms a Roofers • Plumbers Electricians P Window safety film • Garage door electric conversions Tile flooring • Lighting P Painters Architects 1 Pest control — Share your positive experiences with others. E-mail your service company recommendations to the Network at...servicepicks@eichlernetwork.com . t KITCHEN &- BATH REMODELS BUNDLED & PRICED TO PLEASE! PRICED EICHLER KITCHEN PACKAGE #1 AFFORDABLY STARTING AT... Includes remodeling, replacing cabinetry, countertops, $25/000 fixtures, lighting, floors, sink, faucet, garbage disposal, and painting. Appliances not included. MFORTABLY P IOC D STARTING EICHLER BATHROOM PACKAGE #1 AT ONLY... Includes remodeling and installation, replacing $15/000 all bath fixtures, vanity, light fixtures, and painting. Eichler remodeling & additions are 95% of our business — and our #1 priority! Schedule your planning appointment as early as three weeks from your call. Once permits & plans are in place, we can schedule installation within weeks. Call 866-KEYCON1 5 3 9- 2 6 6 1 References available - License: 420897 • E-mails keyconstruction3gearthlink.net Ike that stirred Eichler's soul Continued from page 4 Hubert Humphrey and California Gover- nor Edmund Brown participated. With a framed photograph of Kahn's image of the boys in hand, Eichler reached out to the vice president and, according to the program's transcripts, my gestured: "May I hand you Yh this picture, as I think it will be of particular in- terest to you as one of the early and t foremost leaders in the battle for arzeA&aEK.hi Mm equal oppor- Equality. Kahn in the 1970s. His tunity for all message hit home with Eichler. Americans." "While I consider this building a great accomplishment," Eichler continued, " the spirit expressed in this picture means a great deal more to me since it is a most eloquent expression of the philosophy of my organization, Eichler Homes." After much searching, we eventually uncovered a copy of Albert Kahn's distin- guished photograph. Finding the final piece of the puzzle was most satisfying. In appreciation of local Wright disciple Mogens Mogensen ver won about the the other pio- neers, Mike Joe Eichler, who Q sus s building modern -de- signed neighborhoods in the Bay Area? Hcr&s a story about one of them. o Two years ago, I received an e-mail from Jeff HaAikwho lives with his wife Suzanne, noWn Eichler but in some- thing modernTeff called a "Mogensen." Haas described his home as quite similar to an Eichler, with a flat roof, open -beam ceiling, radiant heat, and so forth. When Haas told me about his home, l had to have a look. And that's when I found several others just Tike his. These "Mogeys," as their owners affectionately call them, are part of a neighborhood of 12. They're nestled in a pocket in the hills of San Mateo, above Skyline Terrace, not far from Hillsdale mall. The Mogeys in San Mateo are all T- shaped designs. The kitchen -dining area, utility room, and carport (or garage) oc- cupy the front of a flat-topped front -to - back wing. The bedrooms are in the back, with a hallway in between. The living room wing, actually' the stem of the 'T,' runs right to left. In the Haas' home, the high end of the living room wing's shed roof penetrates the clerestory windows of the adjacent wing, in front of the bedroom. These in- terpenetrating roof planes create a com- plex geometry of three clerestories angled in two different directions. Wisteria tangles about many of these homes, like cords of wooden lava, acting as an organic counterpoint to the struc- tures' angular geometries. John Shields lives with his wife and two kids in an almost -identical Mogey around the corner. John confessed that his family actually had to find a use for the living room wing. Even at parties, people hung out exclusively in the kitchen area. 1 had to laugh, for the living room wing is easily the counterpart of the Eichleratrium, but here the glass on both front and back extends to the edge of the wing. A Mondrian -like framing of wood tessellates the glass. For me, this living EICHLER HOUSE DOCTOR Continued from page 6 with a light-colored wash, and the beams were painted white, or a dark color like charcoal, deep brown, or dark green. This produced a pleasing contrast and empha- sized the presence of the beams running through the structure. Over the years, some homeowners have painted ceilings and beams white. This causes the beams to recede visually and lose the impact of the original design. In such cases, don't hesitate to con- sider restoring the beams to their origi- nal glory with a contrasting coat of suit- ably colored dark or light paint. It's amaz- ing how a striking color contrast between beams and ceiling adds interest to the in- terior of the house. Perhaps the ultimate step towards a bold, new look is to strip the paint from bilious remodeling project when he stripped the inte- rior beams of his Eichler. Results (left) were stunning. the beats and expose the wood, leaving it `au naturel.' In many cases, the Eichler's Douglas fir beams had a strikingly hand- some grain; however, how good your grain will look won't be known until the paint actually has been removed. Architect K.C. Marcinik sandblasted the roof peak beam in her Palo Alto Eich- David Bohannan. It took John Shields to point me in the right direction. Doing some research for his own home remodel, Shields tracked down Mogey's son, Tom. Shields pointed out an address on his Mogey's architectural plans: the location of Midglen Studios. Now, I thought, we were on to something. Architect Bill Patrick of Midglen Studios is a Taliesin fellow, having apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright. Visiting Patrick's home - studio in the Woodside hills recently to re- search Mogensen, I almost lost track of my intended focus. Imagine a home with every amazing fea- ture unique to both Wright and Eichler homes, in one small structure. Split-level interior, re- strained use of the famous Wright texture blocks, warm wood, and light -diffusing sof- fits. A staircase wraps around a small inter- nal atrium, bringing light to a sleeping fern. The house is nestled between two small hills, and only its butterfly roof allows any sky to be seen directly from inside. The plate glass windows are canted to echo the hill- sides — a Bill Patrick touch, I discovered — and meet, glass on glass, at the corners. Bam- (top). Singer Bing Crosby, Belmont mayor Wallace Benson, and Mogens Mogensen, circa 1965 (above). boo permeates the hills, and seems to complement the Shoji -style window shades inside. I could barely concentrate on my Mogey exploration; I was so intent on ab- sorbing the space. Patrick's apprenticeship with Frank Lloyd Wright began in 1948. Bill had read about Wright in Japan, when he was in the U.S. Army. Later, Bill and three other Wright ap- prentices started Midglen Studios, on an "unbuildable" lot. In true Taliesin style they built almost everything by hand. When Bill bought out his partners, his practice began. Mogensen entered the picture in 1953, when he leased Midglen from Bill Patrick for three years. During that time, Bill was in Ja- pan, where he married Kinuko, his wife to this day. It was at Midglen, from 1953 to 1956, that Mogey designed his San Mateo neighborhood. Mogey wanted to buy the stu- dio, but he and Bill just couldn't come to terms. Today Bill remains glad. "1 got to stay here!" he exclaimed cheerfully. Was this a parallel to Eichler's Bazett ler, leaving a rough, unfinished texture. A different approach to beam expo- sure, and one involving considerable ef- fort, is achieved with chemical paint strippers, extensive sanding, and treat- ment with a stain and sealer. This can produce stunning results, as Raymond Paquin has demonstrated in his San Mateo Highlands home. To learn how Paquin completed his ambitious project, follow his step-by-step procedure on the online version of this House Doctor' feature on Eichler Net- work Online: www.cichlernetwork.com. Publisher & Director: Marl),Arbunich E-mail.: publisher@eichlernetwork.com MarketingCoordinator: Chris Marcoccin E-mail: cjrnarcoccio@prodigy.net The Eichler Network newsletter ispublished quar- terly in regional editions during January, April. July, and Octoberby the Eichler Network, P.O. Bar 22635, San Francisco, CA 94122. Available by subscription at $12,for calendar year 2002, $3.00 each back issue. Copyright 02002 Eichler Net- work. The Eichler Network is not responsible for the quality, .scope, pricing, or any other aspect of the services and/or goods obtained from the par- ticipating service companies. Although it is be. lieved that these companies are reparable based on current information, we s'trongle encourage you also to carefully evaluate and screen all service and goods providers Tlrua participating service cornpa- hies pay a fee to advertise and become part of the Eichler Network referral network. Performance review... horse irraproveaaeni coecertis, and publica- tion inquiries arc welcome. Phone. 415-668-0954. house story? And did the Midglen resi- dence actually inspire Mogens Mogen - sen to design his neighborhood? Tom Mogensen had the answer. Tom, now 52 and a successful Ba Area rea mu- ralist, spent his first three y f life at Midglen. Tom asserts that glen was "not the source of his -dad's love of niod- ernism; it was Mogens' o mdina- vian background. ArchitectuuWarently was not Mogens Mogensen's first career choice. In World War II, while in Copen- hagen, he was an animator; in fact, the lead artist of a feature length film of Hans Christian Anderson's Tin Soldier. When Mogens moved to California to investigate working for Disney studios, the transition didn't pan out, and he moved on to architecture, working for Wurster, Ber- nardi & Emmons (brother of the Eichler architect Frederick Emmons) in San Fran- cisco, and soon afterwards with developer Bohannan beginning in 1949. Under Bohannan, Mogey contributed to the design of the Hillsdale mall, but little of his contribution has survived, with one exception: Mogey's inclusion of some works by renowned sculptor Beniamino "Benny" Butane. After Mogey completed the San Mateo neighborhood, Bill Patrick came into the picture again, as Mogey's assis- tant from 1959 to 1966. One of their many joint creations is the Skyline Terrace apartments in Bur- lingame. This collection of cantilevered, glowing, corner -windowed cubes practi- cally exudes "space age," in a soft way. The two also designed a great, multi -story arrowhead -shaped apartment complex at 55 EI Camino Real. Until his death in 1997, Mogens Mogensen developed three residential neighborhoods in'all (the others were in Santa Clara and Menlo Park) and more than 3,000 apartment units. As the story goes, he actually preferred vertical de- signs, to protect the existing trees. "1'm trained as an archeologist," Tont Mogensen told me, referring to the volu- minous collection of drawings his dad produced. "And I don't want people to forget my dad." Not if I have anything to say about it. Close encounters: "The Joe Eichler I knew11 Continued from front page "Do you live in an Eichler now?" "No, sir." "Then how do you know about living in this kind of house?" "I have friends who live in Eichlers." "Visiting an Eichler is not like living in an Eichler." "But... Having apparently made it past the starting gate, my husband and 1 soon found ourselves inside Joe's Burlingame office, where four photographs on his walls re- vealed much about the man. One wall ex- pressed his political affiliations: a photo- graph of Joe shaking hands with Hubert Humphrey, one with Congressman Don Edwards, and another with President Jack Kennedy. Each was inscribed with a lengthy, personal note. But my favorite was the largest photo- graph, the only one on a wall all to itself: two young boys, one Asian -Caucasian and the other African-American, arms around each other, walking home from school through an Eichler neighborhood. We signed the papers for our Greenwood Two Eichler in late 1972 in that office, and celebrated with a bottle of champagne we brought along. That meeting began a year of phone calls, letter writing, office visits, chit-chat, and even arguments and tears. Before Christmas of 1972, while our new home was under construction, several of my neighbors -to -be and 1 invited Mr. Eichler out to lunch. He seemed flattered. And why not? How often do four custom- ers, admiring and attractive (his appraisal) women in their mid-30s, take a septuage- narian out, treat him to a drink and a good meal and urge him to talk about himself? Over lu•Mr. Eichler told us how it L4!46 nico air conditioni becomes necessary. "And you can also use Unico System heat as a supplemental source of home heating," he said, "on those days when firing up the radiant floor sys- tem would take too long and be inefficient for simply taking the chill out of the air." What's the most challenging aspect of installing one of these low -profile rooftop designs into an Eichler? According to Mark Smith, who has operated JMT Mechanical, one of Unico's Eichler program partipants, since 1994, he feels "it's probably laying out the metal duct work on the roof. All the pieces,just like a puzzle, have to fit together. Plus, in some cases, you're working with the pitch of the roof, so all your angles and offsets have to be pretty accurate." Since a typical Unico installation may require 22 to 30 small, two-inch penetra- tions through the roof, Smith looks to the foam -roof blanket, which entirely encases the ductwork, as a most important element in sealing the penetrations and materials and maintaining a waterproof membrane. "You just can't install this type of sys- tem in an Eichler without a foam roof," he admitted, "because the ducts can not be ex- posed to the outdoor elements. Plus, the foam roof adds an R -30 -plus insulation value to the roof. Which, in itself, will help homeowners with energy costs, and keep the ducts cool." For the program, Able Roofing is the principal foam applicator. In addition to JMT Mechanical, which serves both the East Bay (925-363-9940) and the San Mateo area (888-443-4328), Unico System presently has a network of three other HVAC contractors focusing on Eichler installations throughout the Bay Area: Downing Heating and Air Condition- ing, Inc. (415-485-1011) for Marin and San Francisco; Bay Area Plumbing and Heat- ing (650-323-6006) for Palo Alto; and Los Gatos Aire, Inc. (408-399-5191) for the Sunnyvale to San Jose region. all began. He recounted the story of the Bazett house, "the rather lovely Frank Lloyd Wright home" which he rented in Hillsbor- ough during World War II. "That house was a marvel," he told us. "I looked forward to coming home to its openness and its out- door living. I liked its shape, its simplicity, For some of us, our purchase would become our dream home — a customized. Eichler near the Palo Alto Community Center. So most of us requested changes, many changes. But having 30 strong- willed fledgling homeowners begging, pleading, demanding something extra was not easy on the builder and his architects. In fact, we wondered how Mr. Eichler had survived such demanding customers. After much grumbling, he either agreed or Th .....,,..„.„o. e `household word' himself. When Carolyn Caddes signed the purchase papers for her Palo Eichler in 1972, champagne was in order. Above: Joe and Carolyn celebrate the moment in Mr. Eichler's Bur- lingame office. Below. 30 years later, Carolyn Caddes in front of her Greenwood development Eichler. and the cleanness ore its lines, its total felb ing.” His stories continued to unravel. That meeting was ajoy, a chance to ex- perience Mr. Eichler's gentle side. But soon after that I discovered Joe's abrasiveness for the first time. Responding to a not Aft had sent him expressing concern about overflow of concrete in our atrium flowerbeds, Mr. Eichler called on the tele- phone. "Mrs. Caddes," he said, "I got your last letter, and waited a few days to answer. I didn't want to use harsh words with you. But let me tell you a little aphorism that I learned from my mother-in-law: `Never show a fool work half done."' Ilaughed nervously and asked him if he was implying I was a fool. He denied it. "No. Just think about it, though," he answered. "You don't know what all goes into the building of a house, stage by stage. That atrium has just been poured. We'll take care of the extra concrete later. Don't worry about it. Your flowers will grow." After hanging up, l knew very well that I hadjust been called a fool, but the sting was tempered by the `not -wanting -to - speak -harsh -words' stuff. And also be- cause he was right. And how well I knew that Joe Eichler could use harsh words. I had heard stories about how he had made women customers cry, and men furious. At such times he was described as a curmudgeon, or even worse. That image was enhanced by his voice, which a friend described as "pure gravel." The harshest words — and the one com- ment I dreaded most, but never heard — from Joe Eichler were, "You don't understand an Eichler. You shouldn't buy one." That was the ultimate insult, I thought, and it usually came when a buyer was making the kinds of changes that would cause the house to become more conventional than Joe liked. In all fairness, the people who pur- chased Eichlers in Greenwood One and Two nearly drove Joe Eichler mad. We were all eager to own one of his new houses in that neighborhood, even before final blueprints had been drawn. (After my phone `interview' with him, I had gone as far as sending him a telegram to convince him I would be a good Eichler resident.) .7 disagreed; and if Mr. Eichler made changes, he charged for them. And in the end, we did get our Eichler dream home. On New Year's eve 1973, with- out heat or electricity, sidewalks or plumb- ing, we moved into our new Eichler, in the rain. The smell of that new home was more glorious to me than the smell of a new car! Joe Eichler dropped by several times during the six months that followed, espe- cially after I told him about a trade I had arranged with landscape designer Thomas Church — my photography for Tommy's garden design. (I think that gave us a little more cachet with Joe.) When Mr. Eichler visited our home on his 74th birthday, in June of 1974, he even paid us a high compliment. "I allowed all those changes you wanted only because Claude [Oakland and Kinji Imada, our home's architects] and I agreed they didn't demean the style," he pointed out. "In fact, I'll admit, they enhanced the beauty of your Eichler. You have good taste." From that moment on, I understood the man a little better. To him, a person with good taste was one who agreed with him! Naturally. Customers were not mere statistics to Joe Eichler. When reminded of people who had purchased his homes a decade before, he would respond with comments like, "Yes! They had two children. Three cherry trees out back. Pretty blonde wife. Nice family." Perhaps this personal feeling for people who lived in his homes explained Joe Eichler's zest for his work. Mr. Eichler's secretaries had told me that throughout his career he worked long hours, even on Sat- urdays, and seldom took time for vacations. But Mr. Eichler always seemed to make time for his people. As I observed first hand while my home was being built, he took great pride in maintaining relationships with his staff and workers. Even though everyone he knew did not embrace him warmly, this irascible man surrounded him- self with gentle people and made life-long relationships with them. By comparison, our acquaintance was brief, but it impressed me deeply. During that two-year span in lowly 1970s, my feelings for Mr. Eichle ngedfrom awe and intimidation to a blend of admiration and nervous affection. He had become much more than a household word. The unfortunate real' is that even the best things in life chatmonth after his 74th birthday visit,Clr. Eichler died unexpectedly; and our sad goodbyes filled his memorial service at Roller-Hapgood Funeral Home in Palo Alto. In the years that followed, our children grew up, and I pursued a photography career, got di- vorced, and later remarried. But I never seriously considered sell- ing my beloved Eichler home. Today I rent it to a charming family of four, and I'm confident that they understand and appre- ciate what living in an Eichler is all about. Just as I do. We can tailor your new Duro-Last roof to be the most -durable, best -insulated & heat_reflective roof on the market today! Cal-Pac Roofing Let Cal-Pac's service -ready tearr is Duro-Last's of estimators show you why the Premiere e Bay Area Installer.. dependable, long-lasting Duro-Las �Sr RO°� single -ply system is the best choici m tfor your next, superior Eichler root Iain Phibbs, Brian Fallon, John Brandt, Tony Fredericks Built with Quality on a Nationwide Reputation Energy-efficient - Leak -proof - Virtually Maintenance -free - Fully Warranted License #73506 • Website: wwwduro-last.com E-mail Cal-Pac: calpacsm@aol.com Historic Quest's Palo Alto applications move forward, two others in holding pattern he continuing efforts of the Eichler `Historic Quest' committee to place a number of Eichler homes on the Na- tional Register of Historic Places is well into its second year of activity, with the committee's determined members pres- ently putting final details in place to en- sure successful nominations. "When we first met as a group in Feb- ruary 2001, the committee's problem was that we didn't know what we didn't know!" emphasized Barry Brisco, Historic Quest committee co-chair. "A National Register application is required to be researched and documented in very specific ways, and we're finally getting a handle on exactly what is needed to get the properties listed. We've been told that it's normal for nomi- nations to go through multiple revisions and take more than a year to complete." Following consultation with and the recommendations of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), which facili- tates National Register applications at a state level, the committee recently scaled back its number of nominations from six to four. That decision evolved when the Historic Quest committee learned that both the Terra Linda (built 1954-'56 in San Rafael) and Rancho San Miguel (1956-'59, Walnut Creek) subdivisions were not close enough to the 50 -year mark to successfully qualify 1'or consideration. "The National Register will accept properties that are younger than 50 years old if they are exceptionally significant," Brisco said, "but SHPO has determined that those two developments did not rise W that level of significance. "Swe put the Terra Linda and Rancho San Miguel nominations on hold_ for now'will consider going back to them ure date when they are closer to the 50 -year mark." Still in process are the nominations for two Palo Alto developments, Green Gables (1950) and Greenmeadow (1954-'55), as well as Joe Eichler's personal residence of Atherton (1952) and the X-100 steel house in the San Mateo Highlands (1956). The committee has decided to focus on getting the two Palo Alto subdivisions listed first. The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's pre-eminent listing of historically significant structures and districts. Being listed does not impose any restrictions on modifications homeowners can make to their property, since it is a sym- bolic recognition of historic value. These Eichler candidates have been nominated for their architectural signifi- cance in the context of mid-century mod- ern style. Designed by architects such as Bob Anshen and A. Quincy Jones, who went on to achieve international recognition, the nearly 11,000 homes that Eichler built be- tween 1950 and 1974 have gained increas- ing recognition for their architectural merit. In addition, Eichlers are sought after by discerning buyers who specifically seek out examples that have remained true to the Los Angeles bid to preserve Jones & Emmons' Palo Alto center Continued froin page 2 A h'f f' S C If; f E' hl ' 1 h The Edgewood's design is very much about scale and scope as well as being architecturally appropriate to the adjacent Eichler developments. As the only commercial development planned and built by Eichler, the Edgewood is commonly considered a natural exten- sion of the Eichler aesthetic and lifestyle. "Planned and developed as part of an Eichler subdivision, the Edgewood is a rare example of this type of integration," Biondo said. Like residential modern, the Edge - wood's elegant lines and open plan have held up well, even as its finishes have faded and its corners have become scratched and dented. Admittedly the center has not been well maintained. The Edgewood also has had its share of crime, which presumably has attrib- uted to some terming it "blighted." In her laundry list identifying the undesir- able aspects of the center, Susan Arpan, the City of Palo Alto's Redevelopment Project Manager, emphasized "dark al- leys and double loading" While the Edgewood's label of blight is reportedly a key factor for the City of Palo Alto to qualify for rede- velopment funds, the center's true con- dition can be debated. Nonetheless the Edgewood appears to be thriving. Cer- tainly not upscale, the center is home to a diverse and eclectic mix of inde- pendent businesses, from African City Alive to Albertson's supermarket to the Majarishi Vedic School of Meditation and the House of Wigs shop. As the gatekeeper between osh Palo Alto and working-class Ea`? Alto, the Edgewood draws patro . uu are a diverse mix of cultures and.income levels. "Blacks, Latinos, Asians, iinmi' grants are the ones who have stor rc and who shop here," said shop Peter Evans, "and they won't be able to if redevelopment comes." Notwithstanding the rarity of an intact postwar shopping center, let alone one integrated into the develop- ment like this one, and created by a sig- nificant architect and builder, there seems to be little awareness of the Edgewood's impending demise in the Eichler homeowner and general his- toric -preservation communities. "This is the rule about tearing down historic buildings: the building going up has to builder's original design and style. "In the past two years, both of my new neighbors bought their homes because they were Eichlers that hadn't been remodeled, and now they're working hard to restore them to their original look," Brisco said. "It's becoming clear that keeping the Eichler style adds to the value of the house." The Historic Quest committee, Brisco indicated, hopes that by getting Eichlers listed on the National Register, more people will become aware of their significance. THE EICHLER SIDING SPECIALIST EXTERIOR SIDING REPLACEMENT & SALI DRY -ROT REPAIR • BEAM RESTORATIOP FENCE & DECK BUILDING - FREE ESTIMA ROBERT HART CONSTRUCTION 415-310-0677 License #771283 E-mail: hbronzeCaol.com rc i ec s o a ies raise concern Ul iU Ul s on y s Upping p aza Me Long -distant advocacy. The LosAngelesConservtmey'sAdrierte8iondo (above) at the endangered Edgewood. Two of its main buildings are the Albertson's market (top left) and the former Eichler offices (below left). be better than ,wW.mdw w the one com- ing down," pointed out Alan Hess, archi- tecture critic for the San Jose Mercury News. "The history, depth, and diversity of Palo Alto," Hess added, "is reduced when we lose this center." While change is inevitable and a pre- requisite for progress, even the Edge - wood's preliminary Environmental Impact Report offers a valid argument for celebrat- ing historical resources and fully apprais- ing the value of the Edgewood. . "Given the recognized significance of Eichler in the history of residential devel- opment in California," the Historic Archi- tecture Assessment portion of the EIR points out, "it appears as though sufficient time has passed to conclude that Edgewood Plaza and the adjacent Eidhler office build- ing are eligible for the California Register. The shopping center appears to be signifi- cant as the only retail center designed for an Eichler development, and it also reflects his interest in integrating community -re- lated buildings into his residential projects." The FIR also questioned the anticipated high impact of new construction on trans- portation, which, according to the report, "currently operates below the City of Palo Alto's acceptable level of service." No resolution has yet been developed to Author's American Dream' Continued from page 3 lesser-known designers and builders have periodically surfaced long enough to get mentioned in the news, and then quickly disappeared again. The potential for a sus- tained production of well-designed, mass- produced houses still remains unrealized. Eichler's developments, notable for their ingenuity and elegant design, remind us that it is possible to surpass the status quo. I was motivated to write Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream to find the reasons that, amid the expanding realm of sprawl of unimaginative and unsatisfying cheek -by -jowl tract home developments, the Eichlers remain the rarest of exceptions. Even today, despite the Eichlers' example and those of numerous similar, although smaller, efforts elsewhere, architects design only ten percent of American housing. The chapters in our book outline a search for the answers to a number of ques- tions surrounding this condition: Where did the ideas behind these exceptionally well- designed homes come from? Who was Joe Eichler, and who were the people he found achieve mitigation of traffic impacts. "A thoughtful redevelopment plan could include an adaptive reuse of some of the Eichler buildings," offered the Conservancy's Biondo, "something that might include incentives to lure back some of the unique shops that now populate the center." The City of Palo Alto, however, is not known for its fondness for historic preservation, nor for its appreciation of modernism. In fact, its Historic Build- ing Survey does ngftclU& any struc- tures built after lfiere are two ways to look at [Eichler as builder of the center], and one is that he did it here and it didn't work," said City of Palo Alto's Susan Arpan. On the other hand, she added, "We wedded to any one [renewal] plarl� y' According to the City of Palo Alto timeline, the inevitable marriage of city and plan will take place at ajoint pub- lic hearing at 7pm on September 23. Until then, supporters of Edgewood preservation can reach Adriene Biondo and her online petition by contacting her at 818-360-5458, e-mail astroluxe@ mindspring.com. City of Palo Alto's Susan Arpan can be reached at 650- 329-2604. The final EIR will soon be available from the City Clerk's office. to join him in his groundbreaking work? How were these elegant homes built, and how was their builder able to keep the building process, atypical in almost every respect, within the constraints of merchant - builder costs? What was the effect of the Eichlers on the housing market, and what did their builder have to do to sell them to a largely tradition -bound public? And fi- nally, just how did Eichler's developments make a lasting difference to American middle-class residential life? The legacy of Eichler Homes will likely endure and grow in importance as the largely unplanned suburban realm contin- ues to be the residential context of choice for the majority of families, not just in the United States, but wherever middle-class populations are expanding around the globe. It is my hope — and that of my collabo- rators, Marty Arbunich and Ernie Braun — that Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream can inform and even in- spire those who dare to imagine that ev- eryday life, despite the pervasive pressures of expanding costs and shrinking re- sources, can be lived within an environ- ment that is both practically manageable and aesthetically enriching. Network of BayArea HVAC contractors keyed on Eichlers Team of installers sees low -profile Unico as ideal fit for new rooftop air-conditioning plan s a design -friendly approach to Eich- ler home cooling, and an alternative to conventional large and unsightly rooftop ductwork, the concept of low -pro- file, hidden rooftop air conditioning en- capsulated by spray -on polyurethane foam roofing was first introduced to the Eichler neighborhoods a few years ago. Since then, the benefits of trial and er- ror and some key installation modifications have improved both the integrity of this specialized design as well as its perfor- mance level. But perhaps the most signifi- cant enhancement to the evolution of this design type and its all-important stream- line appearance has been the introduction of Unico System, a manufacturer that brings to the table both highly touted, Eichler -ready mini -duct advantages and a refreshing business attitude. Marketing their Eichler air-conditioning package as the Unico Cool -Heat Comfort Combo, the St. Louis -based manufacturer has for several years looked forward to fac- ing the challenge of bringing a cooling so- lution, as well as the expandability of a supplemental heating source, to a house de- sign, such as the Eichlers, not equipped with convenient hideaway attic or crawl spaces. Now that Unico has put in place their net- work of regional installers, they appear ea- ger to take the next step in the Bay Area. "Unico wants to make sure not only that their contractors are successful, but also that the homeowners that purchase their system are happy with ,x lh:" get," pointed out Tim McKeown, t n California sales manager for Unico7s regional distributor, .Speciality -AC. "Unico_works closely with their installers, and wants to ensure that they are utilizing the• ntco product prop- erly. That appro, , rantees Unico the quality name the?i7.Woking to maintain. "The communication lines to Unico are so open that 1 can go right to the top of Unico's staff any time I want. With most other manufacturers, you're lucky if you even know who the high-level people are." McKeown, who is one of the Eichler program's Unico quality controllers and laison between the individual HVAC con- tractors and the foam roofing applicators, also likes how involved the manufacturer is in the design process. Even though Unico's plant and offices are located across the country, he was quick to point out that On beams: caring for the Eichler'bones' Consider the Eichler beam: an essential structural element that also adds grace and beauty to the mid- century modern design. One might assume that beams need no care, and that they should stay the same color as the day they were first painted. Not necessarily! In fact, any exposed beam defi- nitely needs periodic attention. If ne- glected, a beam can eventually bring forth a repair bill costing thousands of dollars. When such cases are found, they,usually suffer from conditions that were simply left `out of sight, out of mind': on the top surface of beams exposed in the atrium and those ex- tending beyond the eaves of the house. Decades of weathering cause paint - fairly quickly. What's more, the miniature ducting is a perfect fit for retrofitting resi- dences in which materials need to be com- pletely hidden or at least small enough to go unnoticed. Many homes designated as `historic' have become ideal candidates. In much the same way, claims Unico, the Eichlers also have become a natural fit. "The Unico System's compactness al- lows for the inclusion of superior indoor comfort that simply was not previously possible for many homes without radically altering, and ultimately destroying, their original aesthetic designs," claimed Tom Taylor, Unico's marketing coordinator. That comfort, according to Taylor, ex- tends to heating, a dual feature of the Unico rooftop system which, for a minimal cost, can be incorporated into the original instal- lation and tied to the existing radiant -heat boiler. With the Unico, Taylor pointed out, the heating circulates from ceiling to floor, warming the floor without creating drafts. While Taylor does not encourage any- one to replace a healthy radiant -heat sys- tem, one of the joys of owning an Eichler home, he does look to his product as a vi- able and efficient substitute if abandonment - Continued on nage 7 Mini -duct comfort. Mark Smith of JMT Mechanical shows off one of his recent Eichler air-conditioning installations. The low -profile Unico ductwork fans outfrornthe main trunk line. Above ri I�u:Onthe same roof,,'a foam blanket now seals in the exposed ducts. they are still determined to stay hands-on with the design of every job. "What Unico does is take the drawings our contractors furnish them and design a duct systetq for each individual house that works with the family's needs, their prod- uct materials, and with their system's air flow capabilities," said McKeown.__ - . What usually draws new contractors to Unico System initially is the company's pre-engineered high-pressure, low -noise duct -work, whose diameter measurements (three -and -three-quarter inches outside, two inches inside) are about one-eighth the size of conventional ducting. "When you're looking at a conventional system for the kind of air flow that is needed in an Eichler home, you find ducts somewhere between 18 and 22 inches in diameter," said McKeown. "And it goes without saving, it's very difficult to hide that on a rooftop.,, On the other hand, the Unico duct- work's unobtrusive presence and quiet sound level, according to McKeown, win over most contractors who take notice to wear away, leaving the exposed wood beam open to cracking and the insidious effects of what is commonly called 'dry rot.' Even though dry rot is a rather inac- curate term for this condition — the prob- lem doesn't occur in totally dry wood — it causes various types of fungi to deterio- rate the wood. These organisms cannot exist if the moisture content of the wood is below 20 percent. Therefore, the way to control wood rot is to prevent water from contacting the surface of the wood. It is essential to regu- larly inspect exposed beams and check to make sure that the paint protecting them has not lost its integrity. When inspecting exposed beams for rot, if soft crumbly areas are found, Ron Key of Key Construction & Design in Mountain View recommends probing the beam to determine the degree of deterio- phnm,e An HibM (abm e); M,,,k S 1 (,i&I t mmt pany , e�bli your comfort... company bought with our double -paned The � Great Eichler Wnulaw... I windows and siders! y I Discover our PeerrOne f of doors and replace ent windows: single/dua _ e I and low -E safety glass I The Peerless M-1100 sliding door — a perfect fit for the Eichler design Proudly serving the Bay Area since 1981 Y -. Bones' of the house. Accenting the Eichler's mas- sive, exposed beams can add impact to the interior. ration. If dry rot has affected more than 25 percent of the wood's total thickness, Key recommends getting a qualified struc- tural engineer to inspect the beam to de- termine if it is structurally sound. If the damage is superficial, he recom- mends scraping out the damaged areas un- til healthy wood is exposed. After mak- ing sure the beam is thoroughly dry, patch it with Bondo, and even cap the beam with metal flashing. Key warns against using JA�JII11I JIIU 800-474-5362 E-mail: petw@aol.com - contractor's license #691823 substances such as `exterior spackle.' which won't last. At the very least, Key says, keep the beam painted on a regular basis. A different problem sometimes ob- served in beams is warping. This may occur because the beam was cut from wood very close to the heart of the tree, or wasn't cured properly. "I've never seen a beam warp to the degree that it could result in a structural problem," Key states. Additional good news comes with knowing that Eichler used top quality Douglas fir beams (the wood grading system employed in the `50s was more stringent than that used today); and when properly cared for, his beams should last indefinitely. The Eichler architectural style ex- posed the massive 410 -inch beams; they are the 'bones' of the structure. Consequently, their appearance has a tremendous impact on the feel of the interior spaces, particularly in the open- plan living area of the house. Most Eichler ceilings were originally treated - Continued on nage 8 of few words – so there were no `pep Touching image' of racial harmony that stirred Eichler's soul clearly understood odbyeveryoneinv[he company that the integration policy overt company policy." he picture was vividly clear: two Two boys, two races, one poignant photograph byAlbert E Kahn wasThese grounds for mutual apprecia- Tyoung boys – one black, the other Asian -Caucasian – their arms around each other, strolling home from school to their Eichler neighborhood in Lucas Valley – in perfect harmony, without a care in the world. That was the image, alright. It was this photograph, according to legend, that moved builder Joe Eichler in a profound way and, by his own admis- sion, literally provided the sense of purpose Eichler needed to rise each day and pour the next slab of concrete, the other foundation of his life's work. After scores of interviews over the years covering the origins of the Eich- ler homes, we had become intimately aware of that photograph, even haunted by references to it; but had never actu- ally laid eyes on it. Yet our wondering persisted: how could such a simple, un- assuming image of two small children consume a grown man's soul? . After a while pieces of the puzzle began to come together. Each new an- ecdote, it seemed, led to another. Even- tually an internet search cleared a path to the family of Albert E. Kahn – pho- tographer, author, and nephew of Albert Kahn the modernist industrial architect – who died of a heart attack while driv- ing his car at age 67 in 1979. "That photograph was notacciden- tal," Brian Kahn said firmly, recalling his late father Albert, a self-proclaimed "radical in the tradition of lack London" and outspoken critic of the U.S. govern- ment in the J&s McCarthy era. "The two childreAWhe photo reflected my father's view (if the only type of society worthy of humanity_. it is a_statement about an alternative world, one my fa- ther believeld come." It •'also Wo accident that Joe Eichler and A7bert Kahn had crossed paths. They apparently had much in common. `9 have a vague recollection that there was more to it than business," offered Brian Kahn. `9 remember my dad telling me about Eichler – his re- spect for what they were trying to do." Presumably Joe Eichler initially had become aware of Albert Kahn the book author, who had become well known in the 1940s for his anti -fascist best-sell- ing exposes. After the war, Kahn con - Alternative world. Albert Kahn's compelling photo- graph of the two boys in Lucas Valley (above) was no accident, reflecting Kahn's "view of the only type of society worthy of humanity." ftly: Kahn in the I956, during his so-called "un-American activities." tinued to write and publish prolifically, but turned his attentions to battling America's new "cold war" politics, which for Kahn conflicted with the Franklin Roosevelt poli- cies he personally had supported. Because of his outspoken criticism of U.S. foreign and domestic policy, Kahn became blacklisted in the 1950s, appeared several times before committees investi- gating his alleged un-American activities, and as. reported in his obituary,. his pass- port was revoked, phone tapped, mail opened, and his movements closely moni- tored by the FBI. As a tenacious critic of government deceptions, Kahn refused to give in. "As far as I was concerned, I was acting in the American tradition of Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine and the framers of the constitution," Kahn said in an interview shortly before his death. "The idea of any government telling me that I owe un- equivocal allegiance to it is the most re- pugnant thing on earth." In 1955, Kahn struck back when he self -published False Witness, which ex - Upgrade Your Boiler 6 Bring new life to Your Radiant Heat! Radiant Heat maintenance 6 Inspections Leak Detection • Boiler Replacement flew Radiant 6 Baseboard Systems 800-NH246 E-mail: Radiantheat@sbcglobal.net License 4634585 • Bonded 5 Insured Affinity for children. Kahn shot very few images for Eichler Homes. However, all of them were taken at Lucas Valley and featured children (as above) enjoying everyday life in natural neighborhood settings. tion set the stage for Kahn's meeting with Eichler. In 1963, when Kahn cap- tured the two boys on film, he and his family were living in Glen Ellen, north – — -- — L' of Lucas Valley. 0'. , — According to Carolyn Caddes, a Palo Alto Eichler owner who, in the early 1970s, was befriended by both Joe ` C Eichler and Albert Kahn, when Eichler c f� saw Kahn's photograph for the first time "he told Kahn that he was overjoyed." t, "Mr. Kahn said to me," Caddes con- tinued, "`I don't mean to be boasting, but how can I forget what [Eichler) said: `That picture catches within [me] one form – it sums up – what I believe in and what I'm working for in life."' It should come as no surprise that a lar e framed copy of Kahn'sphoto- graph became the centerpiece of +IG tYn✓ 1 yK z : ". Eichler's Palo Alto office, even taking precedence over his two autographed r a , �y • pictures taken alongside President John on�homa roune.,r A/0,n B Kuh, on 1, Kennedy and Vice -President Hubert Humphrey. In the mid-1960s, when I}- posed the Eichler moved company offices to San " confessions Francisco, and even years later to Bur - of an FBI in- lingame, Kahn's image stayed close former who, and prominent. it was al- One Christmas, Eichler featured the ,f leged, was a photograph on the face of a holiday paid govern- card, which he mailed to every con - m e n t wit- gressman and senator. "You know, the n e s s who only one who acknowledged," Eichler delivered told Carolyn Caddes years later, "was p e rj u to u s Senator Eugene McCarthy's wife, and testimony in she sent me a very nice note." the midst of While marketing the Geneva Ter - blacklisting race development in San Fr codur- operations. ing the early 1960s, EicMWembla- All of this turmoil, -however, -did have ,.•-zoned Kahn's photograph on. billboards,, an impact on Kahn's livelihood. When he near his Visitacion ValleyJ&nhouse an to experience difficulty finding a development, and even meIr ated it ling publisher to igsue his books, he in display ads in San Francisco's ma - turned to photography, out of necessity, to jor newspapers. support his family. "Back then we were looking for a "My father had a natural sense of com- community that was forward -thinking, position, and also a special affinity for chil- liberal, and integated," recalled Char- dren," remembered Brian Kahn. "His poli- lene Avery, whose family eventually tics were socialist, and he felt deeply that bought one of the Terrace townhouses. all children, as the hope of humanity, de- "We loved Eichler's belief of integrated served full and equal opportunity." neighborhoods and wanted to show the Kahn's beliefs also included a deep ap- world, and our parents, that it could preciation of racial equality, something Joe work. A flyer with the two children was Eichler adamantly pursued in his company one of the selling tools that worked. It policy. "Joe Eichler was blunt and straight- tugged at our hearts." forward about his feelings on integration," In December 1965, at the formal asserted Catherine Munson. Eichler ceremony for the twin high-rise Geneva Homes' first female salesperson and long- Towers project in San Francisco, both time staffer. "Remember, Joe was a man - Continued on Page8 Affinity for children. Kahn shot very few images for Eichler Homes. However, all of them were taken at Lucas Valley and featured children (as above) enjoying everyday life in natural neighborhood settings. Motivation for writing'Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream' Author's fascination with Eichlers peaks with his `American Dream' By Paul Adamson For most of the past decade, I have been consumed by a fascination with the Eichler homes. I first wrote about them in 1984, when I was a graduate student of ar- chitecture at Columbia University. I ar- gued then that California's Eichlers qualified as a modern vernacular: mod- ern by social intent and aesthetic ex- pression, and vernacular by their use of local materials and methods and their accommodation of regional traditions. Ten years later, after returning to the Bay Area, I was invited to speak at a seminar in Seattle for the American In- stitute of Architects. There, I presented a paper on the Eichlers, suggesting that this special group of homes had valu- able lessons to teach modern designers. The reception I received at that talk was astonishingly enthusiastic. Several curious attendees even asked if there was a book available on the subject. That experience convinced me to get into to some serious research. Soon af- terward I met Eichler Network publisher Marty Arbunich, and we began to col- laborate on a series of newsletter ar- ticles, each intended as a piece of what we hoped could be a comprehensive study of Joe Eichler's extraordinary legacy of affordable modern housing. But my motivation for writing Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds theAmer- ican Dream actually began to form long before lays at Columbia, while I ,was a cfW.-rowing up in the Bay Area. I consider myself a product of the `Amer ream.' My parents came to the IWd States from England on an extended visit in the mid-1950s. It was easy for Britons to obtain green card status during the early postwar, and as many English people did during that time, my father and mother came to America to travel, work, and generally escape the gloom of postwar Europe. My parents were friends from neighboring districts in London, and they traveled together across Canada and down the West Coast to the San Francisco Bay Area, where they worked, my mother in an architectural office and Besides our double -pane replacement windows... we stock the ever -popular GREAT EICHLER WINDOW! A fail -proof and affordable system for insulating your home's existing single -pane windows from winter cold, summer heat, condensation, U.V. rays, noise pollution, and the dangers of broken glass. It's easy to adapt to your present windows! NOISE SOLUTIONS, INC. 800-474.5362 Since 1981 License #691823 Book of dreams. When 'Eichler: Modernism Re- builds 1heAmerican Dream' is published in the fall, the book's release will mark the culmination of eight rears of research and writing on the Eichler subject for au- thor and architect Paul Adamson (right) and his col- laborators. Looking back, Adamson reflects on what inspired him to take on such an ambitious book project. my father as an estimator for a contracting firm. In 1957, having stay- ed a year longer than they originally planned, they returned to London and were married, but immediately returned to California. My fa- ther was convinced that he could build a career in California. Had he stayed in Lon- don, he felt his professional life would have consisted of, as he put it, "waiting to fill cationed in the deserts, Death Valley and Palm Springs, because there was nothing like that in England, and indulged in out- door hobbies. We also enjoyed our houses, first a tiny two-bedroom hillside house in Marin County, then a stretched - out, ranch -style home in the hills of Orinda, and fi- nally a remodeled 1920s craftsman bungalow in Los Altos. Each one en- abled the indoor -outdoor living made famous by shelter magazines of the postwar period. Regardless of their personal satisfaction'with their homes, however, my parents embraced `house hunting,' as did many people we knew, as a weekend recreation. Driving around rhe.sub- urban neighborhoods of the Bay Area, we saw the eclectic variety of homes for sale. Occasionally our drives would be punc- tuated with a sighting of a house that of- fered distinctive qualities, and sometimes my mother or father would call out, "There's an Eichler!" To them the Eichler homes epitomized California living. More than that, however, the houses built by Joe Eichler stood out from their surroundings because they were well de- Regional pleasures. Eager for the ride, little Paul cruises with his dad at Big Sur circa 1960. dead men's shoes." In San Francisco, he became successful, and his faith that the newness of California would support his dreams of a better life never wavered. I remember my parents enthusing about the ambient pleasures of the region - the clear, bright sunlight, warm temperatures, and the abundant natural landscape. We va- The Eichler Network launches its new online store Erchler Network Online installed a new either, inside their respective departments convenience feature on its existing or inside the the Eichler Network Store. Web site (www.eichlernetwork.com) re- /Eichler Network Online also added sev- cently when it created an easy -for -order-/ eral new items for sale to two of its Be- ing Web store for everything Eichler -ori- partments. Now featured in the Modern ented - from modern books, framed Book Nook is the highly recommended new Eichler photography prints, and architec- hard cover book, simply entitled A. Quincy tural plans to subscriptions and back is- Jones, on Eichler Homes architect A. sues of Eichler Network publications. Quincy Jones by architect Cory Buckner. The Eichler Network Store now also The store is also accepting pre - accepts credit cards, making it easy to com- release orders, specially priced plete secure online ordering in just seconds. through August, for the upcoming I •'i Eichler Network Online also has added release on the Eichlers due this separate departments for individual prod- fall, Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds uct areas: Blueprint Depot for available ar- the American Dream, by architect- chitectural plans; Modern Book Nook for historian Paul Adamson with Eichler -related books; Ernie Braun's Eichler Network publisher Marty Eichler Hall of Frame for framed photo- graphs; and Newsletter Lowdown for c r "I `,` Eichler Net- — 'r _ - work publica- tions. Items may be ordered signed, not beholden to a preconceived image, and yet marked by a consis- tency, purity, and elegance almost unique amid the bland predictability of ever -spreading middle-class tracts. The idea that good design - and by this I mean design as a holistic prac- tice, notjust making things look a cer- tain way - should be accessible to as many people as possible was one of the principle missions of the modern move- ment. The industrial process made this concept practical. The Bauhaus recog- nized it, but although their influence was profound, the actual output of products resulting from their designs was limited. During the postwar period in America, the potential for mass produc- tion of consumer goods lent renewed currency to the idea that well-designed products might be made widely acces- sible. America's premier industrial de- signer of the period, Charles Eames, and his wife and partner, Ray, understood that modernity could democratize im- provements in everyday life when they declared that industrialization could "get the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least." A half century after Eames made that statement, and 70 years after the close of the Bauhaus, stores including Ikea, Crate and Barrel, and the Pottery Barn have realized the concept that good design can be made widely ac- cessible to people of moderate income. However, the home itself, while also mass produced at prices accessible to middle-income consumers, has yet to receive the serious attention of design- ers. (Interestingly an architect was a principle founder of Crate and Barrel.) Modernist architeAlhave consis- tently tinkered with daWs foe'mass- produced houses, and there have been some notable examples. -Walter Gropius designed an all -steel house that was built as staff qua at t4Bau- haus. Le Corbusier alsWued that the houses could be mass-produced, and he built a number of abstractly austere "houses for workers" that were in- tended to look machine -made. In the United States, Frank Lloyd Wright introduced a systematized con- struction method for middle-class homes in the 1930s, and then designed and built dozens of his so-called Usonians for individual clients. Since then, numerous efforts by - Continued on nage 5 Arbunich and photographer Ernie Braun. Also, Ernie Braun fans will delight in discovering the five specially selected, new 16x20 -inch photographs recently added to Ernie Braun's Eichler Hall of Frame. Each print is a beauty, signed by Braun himself, and handsomely framed. In all, eight framed Braun prints are now available. In the coming months, the Eichler Net- work will also add several additional Eichler architectural plans to the Blueprint Depot by architect Claude Oakland. Grand opening. The new A. Quincy Jones book (tap rote, left) and five new Ernie Braun prints kick off Eichler Network Online's new store. Whew! What a ride we have had in the Marin County Eichler real es- tate market this year. Unprecedented num- bers of sales have occurred at record prices during the first hall' of 2002. The demand for Eichler homes has continued at a strong pace ever since the Christmas holidays. To what do we attribute this steady demand for Eichlers? Several factors: . I. An ever-increasing appreciation of contemporary architecture as interpreted in these fine homes. 2. The communities in which Eichler homes occur provide an astonishing ar- SCAVU" II ray of community benefits — great schools, excellent recreation facilities, open space, natural beauty of the envi- ronment, and a strong sense of commu- nity involvement and loyalty on the part of the residents. 3. The prices of Eichler homes in Marin range from $550,000 to $900,000 for the most part. This price range is the most active in the Marin market. What do we see for the future? Pos- sibly a gentle slowing, but nothing sig- nificant. The future of an investment in an Eichler home is certain to continue its upward spiral since there is no possi- bility of replacing these homes. No sig- nificant tracts of land are available in --- MODERN AFFORDABLE ITALIAN -KITCHENS --- r e Bella KITCHENS AND FURNITURE FGR BEAUTIFUL LIVING 1513 North Point Street - San Francisco - 415-440-0210 Fax: 415-440-0212 - Web: www.lifesbeautiful.com - E-mail: Etnaco@worldnet.att.net Marin County to produce any kind of housing — much less anything which would rival these outstanding designs. So enjoy your lovely Eichler home — and maintain it with loving care. Keep it in good condition and always preserve it with good maintenance. If you need guidance on maintenance, feel free to call me. I can be reached at 415-883-0555 x19. It will be a pleasure to hear from you. In the meantime, I sincerely hope that you enjoy your summer. Eleventh -hour effort to save Edgewood shopping Center Continued from front page Committee. "The Edgewood was an early shopping center prototype, a well -crafted example of early suburban community plan- ning, and the only design standing that rep- resents Joseph Eichler's commercial work" A volunteer group formed in 1984 in response to the threat of destruction to post- war structures, the Modem Committee has amassed a respectable track record. They've contributed to the preservation of numerous significant Southern Califor- modern buildings, including the LAX eme Building, at the Los Angeles Inter- Cinerama Dome, in Los Angeles, and the 11sest remaining McDonald's, in Downey. ong other projects, members of the Conservancy are currently working on a historic nomination for the San Fernando Valley Eichlers. According to the Edgewood Redevel- opment Project Draft Environmental Im- pact Report, "the redevelopment project Unico, Inc. Presents... UNICO SYSTEM COOL -HEAT COMFORT COMBO FeUnico System Learn more about Unico System online: www.unicosystem.com TOTAL -COMFORT SOLUTION Low profile & seamless Ideal summertime cooling Instant, supplemental heat Replaces defunct, unrepairable radiant -heat systems Boosts year-round insulation Controls unwanted humidity Improves indoor air quality Appreciates your home's value The Eichler total -comfort package ... Air conditioning, instant heat, and a new Able foam -insulated roof! ■ The Unico System Cool -Heat Comfort Combo incorporates the unique mini -duct central cooling & heating system designed with small main trunk lines, flexible two -inch -diameter supply tubing, and modular air -handling equipment. Its streamlined presentation provides the Eichler homes' long-awaited answer to low -profile air conditioning and supplemental heating. ■ Unico System's ducts are so low -profile, they're invisible from any angle of view. They seamlessly reinforce your home's architectural integrity. ■ When combined with Able Roofing's quality high -R -value foam roof cover, the Unico System Cool -Heat Comfort Combo is a highly insulated rooftop cooling & central heating system. ■ For more information, call our certified Unico installer... Based in San Rafael with 31 Years Experience Energy Savings Experts ■ Your Full -Service Contractor � Able Roaf�ng ., 415-485-1011 License #644720 - E-mail: downingheatinggaol.com - Website: www.downinghvac.com p6mr h kl, Lew. Endangered species. "The Edgewood," says preservationist Adriene Biondo of the Los Angeles Modern Committee, "was an early shopping center prototype, a well - crafted example of suburban community, planning, and the only design standing that represents Joseph Eichler's commercial work." proposes to revitalize the Edgewood Cen- ter by demolishing the existing facilities and replacing them with new retail devel- opment and housing." Albertson's supermarket reportedly would be replaced with a new, 20,000 - square -foot facility. The redevelopment plan also includes a 4,000 -square -foot drug store and up to 18,000 square feet of space for small retail businesses. Between 38 and 49 residential units are also proposed. Once the EIR is certified on Septem- ber 23, the City of Palo Alto will move forward with its adopted final plan, which is still open to modification. "9t is particularly ironic to imagine los- ing the Edgewood when one considers that the nearby Green Gables Eichler subdivi- sion has a pending histori rict nomi- nation with the National Iter of His- toric Places in process,''_ Biondo pointed out. "Also, putting a closet pier on the _. Edgewood is not an app to way to �. launch the publication of the important new- bookjust released on its architect, the.pro- lific Quincy Jones." Biondo, who lives in an Eichler in Southern California's Granada Hills, plans to submit a formal recommendation to the City Manager's office principally based on the architectural merits of the Edgewood. "9 want to present as many strong ref- erences supporting the significance of the architecture as 1 can," she said. "I have built a pretty strong case, especially for the preservation of Eichler's former office building, which is part of the center." At the height of his success in the mid- 1950s, Joe Eichler constructed the Embarcadero Shopping Center. A four - building complex that would come to be known as the Edgewood, the center is lo- cated adjacent to both the Edgewood and Green Gables Eichler neighborhoods, at the intersection of Embarcadero Road and St. Francis Drive. The center's quad originally included a Lucky market, a Bank of America, a Shell gas station, and by the late `50s, Eichler Homes' office, which was company head- quarters through 1964. Built in the Eichler tradition with mod- ern -style post -and -beam construction, the Edgewood was designed by Jones and Emmons, who were also responsible for thousands of California Eichlers. Jones is the subject of a new mono- graph, A. Quincy Jones, released in May by Phaidon Press. Its author, Cory Buck- ner, while commenting on Jones and Emmons' considerable California legacy, pointed out the significance of the Edgewood, saying, "With the recent demo- lition of the Daphne Funeral Home in San Francisco, the Embarcadero remains as the most significant example of Jones and Emmons work in the Bay Area." Conti toed on a e 5 Coming to Palo Alto's Cubberley November 1-2 `Celebrate Eichlers': two-day event to salute 50 -year anniversary, new book, `historic' bid nh the ever-present wave of in- terest in the Eichler homes con- tinuing to rise with each pass- ing year, 2002 looks like a prime time to step out and "celebrate Eichlers"! That's definitely the feeling of the event planners behind Celebrate Eich- lers, a first -of -its -kind, two-day show- case of Eichler exhibit materials, speak- ers, and home -improvement vendors set for November at Palo Alto's Cubberley Community Center auditorium. The brainchild of the Eichler 'His- toric Quest' committee, a group which has several applications on file for the Eichlers with the National Register, Celebrate Eichlers will focus its festive theme on three recent Eichler develop- ments: the Eichlers' continuing 50 -year anniversary, the release of the upcom- ing book Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream. and Historic Who cares about the Edgewood? Preservationist Adriene Biondo does! But her eleventh -hour push to rescue Palo Altos Eichler -built Edgewood Plaza is in need of both time and backing. Below ' Palo.Alto'swwood Plaza Last-ditch rally to spare center, original Eichler office from ruin By Jack Levitan here is the surge of support back- ing Palo Alto's Eichler -built Edge - wood Shopping Center, presumably headed for demolition when City Hall ap- proves its proposed plan in September?. While support in Northern California has seemed unusually quiet, down south a member of the Los Angeles Conservancy's Modern Committee A has made a surprise _ move late in - the cam- paign. Wav- y ing a long- distance flag of advocacy for the endangered center, Southern California preservationist Adriene Biondo has identified a homespun Eichler connection, and intends to act on it. Because the 4.5 -acre Edgewood was designed by the highly regarded Los An- geles -based architectural firm of A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons, whose body of modern work was focused primarily in Southern California, the Conservancy Modern Committee has become particu- larly concerned, moving beyond their usual Southern California borders to influence the Edgewood's fate. "9 am proposing that Palo Alto's entire Edgewood center remain intact, and be restored and revitalized," stated Biondo, who is the residential chair of the Modern - Continued on nage 2 Quest's own pending National Register bid. Slated for Friday and Saturday Novem- ber I and 2, Celebrate Eichlers will be a free event open to all. Planned as nonprofit by His- toric Quest's small committee of volunteers, Celebrate Eichlers' production costs are provided by a dozen home -im- provement com- panies who ser- vice the Eichler communities. "With so tional Register nomination — we feel that,. 2002 is the right year for a celebration," said Barry Brisco, co-chair of Historic Quest. "With the surge of interest in Eichler homes and mid-century modernism in gen- eral, we look forward to an event of this nature being well received." Celebrate Eichlers' planned exhibit will bring together the best visual materials from the Building the American Dream exhibit (UC Berkeley, 1999) with new items col- lected over the past three years. "We plan to include several NEWS ON EICHLER BOOK, H •ON SCHEDULE. Upcoming book Eichler: Mod- ernism Rebuilds the American Dream is on track for fall release. This issue author Paul Adamson ponders his ambitions for writing it. See pagge 3 -ON ORDER. Pre-release orders for 'American Dream signed by the authors are sold out, but book signings will continue at Celebrate Eichlers. The spe- cial discount stands through August. See page 1 -ON HOLD. Historic Quest's Terra Linda (San Rafael) and Rancho San Miguel (Walnut Creek) National Register applications have been delayed while four others are still in process. See page 5 many things com- ing together this year— many Eichlers ap- proaching the half -century mark, the re- lease of the new Eichler book, and our Na - of the more inter- esting Eichler bro- chures and other unusual Eichler memorabilia we have collected as part of our re- search," Brisco in- dicated, "as well as acknowledge the subdivisions and properties that are part of our Na- tional Register nominations." The Historic Quest committee also has compiled a list of high-profile names who are being approached as potential speakers for Celebrate Eichlers. "All we can say for now is that we'll feature several Eichler Homes' alumni as well as people like author Paul Adamson," he said. "Our goal is to produce an event that will bring together Eichler own- ers and enthusiasts and reinforce the message that the Eichler style and spirit is alive and kicking." For the event's two days, each of the 12 participating sponsors will be able to showcase their services and products, and provide information for those in- terested, at special sponsorship tables. Celebrate Eichlers' sponsors in- clude Able Roofing, Anderson Radiant Heat, Cal-Pac Roofing, Eichler Siding, Franz Rogmans Hydronic Heating, Gilman Screens & Kitchens, Key Con- struction, Noise Solutions, the Palo Alto Historical Association, Palo Alto Utilities, and Unico System. A special Celebrate Eichlers pro- gram detailing event itinerary; sched- ule, and location will be mailed free to all Eichler dwellers and Eichler Net- work subscribers in early September. Volunteers interested in assisting Historic Quest produce Celebrate Eichlers are asked to contact event pro- ducer Doug Baird at 415-626-9494. Joe Eichler's image of inspiration This photo of two boys — one block, the other Asian — by Albert Kahn symbolized for Joe Eichler the "most eloquent expression " of his philosophy. Page 4 'The Joe Eichler' knew"the `household word' 16self p :AnRE l By Carolyn Caddes 1 was in awe of Joe Eichler. His name already had been a household word by the time my husband and I relo- cated from Texas to California in 1959. In spite of our deep admiration for Mr. Eichler and his values, we found his homes — with their flat roofs, glass walls, and dark paneling = unattrac- tive and uninviting. We considered their heating sys- tems in the floor peculiar. Good homes in the South had peaked roofs, sheet - rock walls inside that were painted or papered, and used brick outside that gave the facade substance. To the uninitiated like us, the Eich- lers were skimpy. . From awe to admiration, owner recalls her close encounters Palo Alto Eichler owner Carolyn Caddes (left) knew Joe Eichler for only two years. until Joe's passing in 1974. Her memoirs about the builder; part of which appear here, were recently discov- ered in the archives of the Palo Alm Historical Associa- tion. Carotvn'.s account is Channing, her depiction of Mr. Eichler most revealing. But after 13 years in California, visiting sev- eral friends in their Eichler - built homes, and observing their comfort with the light, the indoor - outdoor ambi- ence, and art on their walls, we changed our minds about it all. And that's when we first en- countered the 'household word' himself. While walking through the kitchen of a Mountain View model home in the sum- mer of 1972, 1 mentioned to my husband that the stained -wood ceiling would even- tually become greasy and not lend itself to washing. From behind us came a low, raspy voice: "Grease does not gather on those ceilings! You'll never have to worry about that!" 1 recoiled. Turning around, I saw an aged salesman, a cigar -chomping type, looking down his face and pointing at me. I didn't like to be pointed at, I thought, especially by an eavesdropper — and one who likely never cleans kitchens anyway! Some time later we learned that this sales- person was Joe Eichler himself. The next time I ran into Mr. Eichler was at a Palo Alto city council meeting in the autumn of 1972, when he was argu- ing for approval of his plans for the Old' Military Academy/Harker Day School property in Palo Alto, which he had purchased for development. There was fierce debate between those who wanted low-income hous- ing on the property and others from the immediate neighborhood who were petitioning in support of Eichler's development of 30 homes to be called Greenwood One and Green- wood Two. When Mr. Eichler was asked to de- fend a few items in his plan, he walked slowly and deliberately to the podium, thrust his hands in his pockets, and spoke confidently into the microphone. Mr. Eichler's delivery and vocabu- lary were impressive. He cracked a few jokes, expressed some anger, showed surprise that the council was being so critical, and occasionally punctuated his feelings with a curse word. After the meeting, I introduced myself to Mr. Eichler and managed to ride down the elevator with him and his entourage. He grumbled about the meeting. "They all used to like me when I was supporting open housing," he barked. "I was nearly like a hero, God forbid, but now they've changed. How, in only 15 years, can I so easily become the villain?" Later, when I inquired by phone at the Eichler offices to ask about purchas- ing one of their Palo Alto houses, Joe personally drilled me with questions. - Continued on nage 7