Liz - Eichler, Neutra, and the mid-century Californian Suburb
Introduction
The mid-century modernist movement was a design movement from the 1930's to the 1970's that, architecturally, emphasized clean and simple lines. The movement also highlighted the interaction between architecture and nature with frequent attempts to seamlessly unite buildings with their surrounding landscapes. Two architects that pioneered this movement and founded the mid-century modern aesthetic of the suburbs were Richard Neutra and Joseph Eichler. Though the two architects had very different clients and slightly different designs, both represent important aspects of popular suburban architecture in California beginning in the 1960's. The aesthetic and design elements promoted by both Neutra and Eichler spread from California to the rest of America and changed the intention of suburban design throughout the country. The manifestation of the modernist movement in California during the mid 1900's fostered architects like Richard Neutra and Jospeh Eichler who popularized both the interaction between landscape and architecture and a focus on communal family living spaces throughout the home.The Interaction between Built and Natural Environments
Richard Neutra and Joseph Eichler worked to involve the landscape of the property into the structure they designed. Not only did the architects work around landscape features that occurred naturally, but they made a concerted effort to include the landscape in the design of the building. Neutra created the phrase biorealism, or "the inherent and inseparable relationship between man and nature," (8) believing that the residents should never be disconnected from the outside environment. Full glass walls, large skylights, and terraces were often features that incorporated the surrounding natural environment into the structure. This style, most often including full glass walls and steel beams, permeated the rest of the country. The style of mid-century modernist Californian architecture surfaced in famous east coast properties such as Phillip Johnson's Glass House.These features effect both the design of the outside of the dwelling and the experience inside the home. The large glass walls create an emphasis on natural light and brought the outdoors into the house by seamlessly connecting the structure to the surrounding environment. The homes were designed to be only a single story in most places, keeping the residents on the ground and interacting with the surrounding environment. The design of the single story homes created the opportunity for patios and terraces. The smooth transition from the patio or terrace to the landscape connected the built environment to the natural, Neutra often did not pave patios and kept the existing grass. These features, combined with landscape elements such as pools, encourage outdoor leisure time and place significance on the outdoor surroundings. Eichler often designed houses in his housing developments to promote these outdoor activities, encouraging interaction between neighbors and adding parks to the well-planned developments.
Family Living Spaces
Eichler and Neutra placed a large focus on communal living spaces, emphasizing family time. With the introduction of the television and the separation between family and living room, priorities of the suburban American dwelling change to revolve around the nuclear family. The dining room becomes a separate feature, away from the kitchen, creating a space for traditional family dinners. Eichler and Neutra designed the home around the family, as well as the ability for the family to entertain. Kitchen islands were popularized so that the host or hostess could have more room to entertain. Some houses included guest rooms, increasing the host's ability to entertain.The above blueprint is a plan for an Eichler home, one of the many that he designed for large housing developments. Eichler homes became well known around the country and very influential in the future of tract houses. Tract housing developments, the division of a large tract of land into small properties on which many homes of the same design are built, became popular with the rise of the suburb. Heavily influenced by the earlier prairie home, these houses were designed for what was considered the traditional American family. However Eichler introduced many new concepts to the design of tract houses, emphasizing the individuality of his clients by having multiple designs for the client to choose from. Eichler introduced a non-discrimination policy for his housing developments, a policy radical for its time. Many Eichler developments, such as "The Highlands" in San Mateo, California, included parks and facilities for residents to use which encouraged neighborly interaction and outdoors activities.
The clients for Eichler housing developments were very different than Neutra's clients. Neutra often catered to the wealthy, while Eichler designed for the middle class. Influenced by architects of the time possibly including Neutra, Eichler wanted the mid-century modernist Californian dwelling to be available many people. This architecture bridged a housing gap between the upper and middle class, placing importance on not only function but also design.
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