Eichler Rocks

A small and mighty project with the best clients, and all the love for this mid-century Eichler home. The goal is to create a space that is a welcoming entrance to the house, a functional outdoor living room, and a quiet barefoot retreat for this city dwelling family.

Even though the courtyard is a fully contained space and defined by the direct relationship it has with the house, we want to dig deeper and look farther before putting pencil to paper. How can we draw on what is outside these four walls? What is the story this space has to tell? We uncover stories about neighborhood rock quarries, national design competitions, dairy cows, holey rocks, and a honeymoon to Japan. These personal and site specific stories percolate and permeate the design. 

One of the biggest challenges on any project, but especially in a small space like this, is the editing process. Starting with a pie in the sky wishlist, we thoughtfully revise until we’re left with the essentials. In the end, there’s a nice spot for a morning cup of coffee, and enough openness to gather with a group of friends. The space is simple yet flexible, layered with raw and refined materials, dense planting, and all the stories.

* Joseph Eichler is a residential real estate developer known for bringing modern architecture from custom residences to general public availability in the 1950s and 60s.