I THOUGHT long and hard about whether to use such strong language as "wrecking ball", but I wanted to convey my emotions about this beautiful, doomed home.

I'd like to take you on a tour... in pictures taken by the Eichlertographer Mark Watson. Below are "thumbnails"... click on the desired image for a larger view.

Designed by the talented firm of Jones and Emmons and built in 1964, this home is special for many reasons. It's not a tract home... it was custom built, originally, for one of Joe Eichler's sons, and occupies a huge lot in Atherton. It is literally an "Über Eichler".

Further, it was featured in Jerry Ditto's classic Eichler tome "Desing for Living". Looking at the pictures before I knew of this home, I knew this Eichler was special and different... it didn't fit the floorplan of any Eichler I'd ever seen before.

Sue Olson, of Sue Olson Designs, specializes in Eichler design. Her family has cared for this gem for many years. The new owner however- the guy who started Mervyn's- has torn it down to build his dream home. While not necessarily a "Monster Home", his dream home resulted in the Monstrous destruction of this Space Age Classic. From this point on, I will use this more generic definition of Monster Home. More on that later.

The one saving grace, is that Sue Olson was kind enough to put the wrecking crew she hired on double duty as a salvage operation for me- they successfully rescued 6 of 7 pieces of wonderfull obscure glass from the carport- 5 pieces completely intact.
This optically amazing glass, so common in the later Eichlers but never in such quantity, now has a home in my condo, stored safely in bubble wrap. One day it will once again have it's day in the sun... either in the Eichler I hope to one day buy, or in my otherwise generic condo.
But first, let's get a little closer to this destroyed classic, and get to know this home better, so you know why I'm so fuming mad...

Afraid I don't have a very detailed pic of this view... but that's grey brick on the right, a cherry blossom tree on the left.

Turn your head to the right, you'll note even the guest carport, added on later, matches the post-and-beam construction of the original home.

Facing forward again, a modernist breezeway beckons one into the home.

A closer view. That's Sue Olson herself on the right, greeting guests.
On the far right, a sideways main carport is capped on the breezeway side with a wall of obscure glass that wraps around to this front corner.

More of the entrance breezeway
Side views

... And we enter the breezeway.
Sue Olson did very few changes to the home. One of them involved removing the original pendulum lamps and replacing them with these square ones... perhaps to echo the rectiliniarity of the structure. I may be an old-fashioned futurist boy, but I love those "Jetsons style" globe lamps! Call me prejudiced!

... Inside the house, looking out at the breezeway.
Note the differing roof levels of breezeway and interior. Doesn't allow that much more light in, but from an unusual angle... so very Eichler. Also, the natural wood and black trim. This multi-level roof effect is further enhanced inside....

... with two more roof levels just inside of the breezeway.
Note the diffusion of the light on the underside of the roof... softening the light and helping the occupant's eyes adjust, thus avoiding glare.

(MORE PICS COMING SOON ... this site's still under construction)