Eichler Architecture Explorer

Horizontal beams span between vertical posts, creating a frame that can accommodate broad openings. The diagram separates the supporting frame from the glass. It does not show engineering connections or establish which walls in a real home can be altered.

At a showing: which beams and posts are visible, and what do the plans say about later changes?

City of Sunnyvale · Eichler Design Guidelines

An atrium is open to the sky and brings an outdoor space into the experience of the home. In many Eichler plans it shapes arrival and the relationship between rooms. An enclosed former atrium may function differently; document changes rather than assuming the current plan is original.

At a showing: is the space open or enclosed, and how do circulation, privacy and drainage work?

City of Sunnyvale · Eichler Design Guidelines

In a hydronic radiant slab system, heated water circulates through embedded tubing, warming the slab and the room above. This cutaway explains the principle, not the pipe material, routing or current heating installed in any particular home.

At a showing: what system is installed now, what service records exist, and who maintains each component?

U.S. Department of Energy · Radiant slab systems

Large glazed areas connect rooms visually to private outdoor spaces. Look at the framing pattern as well as the view: a change in window divisions can change the composition of a facade. Orientation, shading and neighboring sightlines affect the experience in each home.

At a showing: where does light enter, which views are private, and what window work is documented?

City of Palo Alto · Eichler Neighborhood Design Guidelines

Exposed roof structure, low roof forms, wood surfaces and simple glazing patterns are part of the broader Eichler vocabulary. Photograph details and compare them with dated plans or images before calling them original. A visual resemblance alone cannot identify the builder or architect.

At a showing: what is documented as original, what was replaced, and what is still unknown?

City of Palo Alto · Eichler Neighborhood Design Guidelines