Eichler Homes of Sequoia Meadows, Redwood City: A Comprehensive Perspective

Overview & Rarity

Tucked between the tree-lined streets of Emerald Hill and Woodside Plaza, Sequoia Meadows stands out as one of Redwood City’s most cohesive and architecturally significant Eichler tracts. Built in the early 1960s during Joseph Eichler’s expansion across the Peninsula, it remains a rare pocket of authentic Mid-Century Modern (MCM) design within a city otherwise defined by a mix of postwar ranches and later suburban infill.

While Eichlers are common in nearby Palo Alto and Sunnyvale, Redwood City’s Eichler inventory is more limited, making Sequoia Meadows a prized enclave for design-minded buyers. The tract’s consistent architecture, mature landscaping, and quiet streets form a harmonious community with a distinctly Californian spirit — open, warm, and human-scaled. As of recent listings, only a handful of Sequoia Meadows Eichlers trade hands each year, underscoring their rarity and desirability in the current market.

Historical Context & Origins

The Sequoia Meadows tract, built circa 1962–1964, reflects Eichler Homes’ late-period evolution — when the company was experimenting with new materials, floor plans, and architectural partnerships. Most homes in this tract were designed by Claude Oakland & Associates, Eichler’s longtime architect following the Anshen & Allen years. Oakland’s work refined the Eichler vocabulary toward even cleaner lines, lighter roof forms, and more open interiors.

Architectural Heritage

• Developer: Joseph Eichler

• Architect: Claude Oakland & Associates

• Period: Early 1960s “Fairmeadow” and “Atrium” era

• Signature Elements: Central atriums, post-and-beam construction, radiant floor heating, and walls of glass connecting to enclosed backyards

Eichler’s Redwood City Vision

Eichler saw Redwood City as an ideal climate zone — a “middle Peninsula” location that balanced affordability, sunshine, and accessibility. Sequoia Meadows was conceived for upwardly mobile middle-class families who valued design as lifestyle, not luxury as status.

The tract shares spiritual kinship with Eichler neighborhoods in Palo Alto’s Greenmeadow and San Mateo Highlands, yet it has its own quiet intimacy and slightly larger lots, reflecting suburban growth patterns of the era.

Design Characteristics & Architectural Typologies

Though more uniform than the custom homes of the same period, the Sequoia Meadows Eichlers showcase a mature expression of California Modernism — a blend of openness, simplicity, and connection to nature.

Common Design Elements

• Indoor–Outdoor Harmony: Sliding glass walls, open-air atriums, and landscaped patios blur the line between inside and outside.

• Post-and-Beam Structure: Exposed beams, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and visible structure emphasize material honesty and rhythm.

• Low, Gently Sloped Roofs: Typically flat or low-gable with extended eaves for sun control and proportional balance.

• Courtyard or Atrium Plans: Many models feature internal courtyards that provide privacy and natural light.

• Natural Materials: Redwood paneling, cork or concrete floors, and warm natural tones dominate interiors.

• Minimal Street Façades: Simple carports, modest entries, and windowless fronts preserve privacy, with interior spaces opening dramatically to gardens.

Variants & Influences

• Atrium Models: Classic Eichler layouts with a central glassed atrium as the spiritual and social core.

• Gallery or Double-Gable Rooflines: Providing additional height and clerestory lighting.

• Split-level Adaptations: Minor adjustments to the local topography, reflecting Redwood City’s varied terrain.

Each home was built from a standardized model catalog, yet over the decades, many have been customized or restored— some with faithful preservation, others with modern reinterpretations. The tract as a whole retains remarkable architectural cohesion.

Preservation, Renovation & Market Pressures

Preservation & Community Efforts

Homeowners in Sequoia Meadows share a quiet but consistent appreciation for the Eichler heritage. Community associations and local enthusiasts often collaborate to maintain the architectural integrity of the neighborhood — advocating for sympathetic remodels and preservation guidelines inspired by the Eichler Network and Docomomo US.

Although Redwood City does not yet have a formal historic designation for the tract, local heritage advocates continue to document and celebrate its mid-century roots.

Renovation & Modern Adaptations

Modern buyers often face the balance between preservation and performance:

• Energy Upgrades: Replacing radiant heating, adding insulation, and upgrading windows with Eichler-compatible glazing.

• Kitchen & Bath Updates: Renovations that retain flow and proportion while introducing contemporary materials.

• Sensitive Additions: Some owners expand with low-profile additions or accessory dwelling units that echo original rooflines and materials.

Firms like Klopf Architecture, RH Design & Construction, and Keycon Inc. have worked on multiple Eichler restorations in the Peninsula, emphasizing fidelity to mid-century design.

Market Dynamics & Teardown Risk

Redwood City’s surging real estate values create inherent teardown pressure — yet Eichlers resist commodification. Their architectural significance and loyal buyer base protect them from the fate of many 1950s ranch homes nearby. Many buyers see these homes not as tear-downs, but as art pieces worth preserving.

Market Trends, Valuation & Buyer Appeal

Eichlers in Sequoia Meadows tend to command premium pricing per square foot compared to nearby non-architectural homes, reflecting both their rarity and design appeal.

Market Insights

• Scarcity Drives Value: Few listings emerge annually, creating strong competition among architecture enthusiasts.

• Cross-Demographic Appeal: Buyers include both younger professionals drawn to mid-century style and longtime admirers of the Eichler ethos.

• Restored Homes Sell Fast: Authentic restorations, especially those with preserved atriums and original wood, often sell within days.

• Design Premium: Even modest-sized Eichlers compete with larger new builds due to their architectural integrity and cultural narrative.

For context, comparable Eichler tracts in Palo Alto and Cupertino routinely exceed $1,500 per square foot, while Sequoia Meadows remains a relative value for mid-century authenticity in a central Peninsula setting.

Architectural & Cultural Significance

Eichler’s Sequoia Meadows community remains a living artifact of California Modernism — accessible, egalitarian, and timeless. Its design principles continue to resonate today:

• Architecture for the People: Eichler believed that good design should be available to middle-class families, not just the wealthy.

• Integration with Nature: Homes were designed around light, air, and garden life — concepts still sought after in contemporary design.

• Cultural Continuity: Preserving these homes sustains a vital chapter of mid-century innovation and postwar optimism in the Bay Area.

In a region increasingly defined by tech wealth and luxury rebuilds, Sequoia Meadows stands as a counterpoint — a neighborhood that values design integrity, community, and the enduring beauty of modern simplicity.

Eric & Janelle Boyenga
Founding Partners | The Boyenga Team at Compass
📞 Call/Text: 408-373-1660
📧 Email: homes@boyenga.com
🌐 www.BoyengaTeam.com | www.EichlerHomesForSale.com
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