1010 La Salle Drive, Sunnyvale – A Rare Eichler Gem in Fairorchard’s Mid‑Century Modern Legacy
Mid-Century Design Meets Silicon Valley History
Tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac in one of Sunnyvale’s most iconic mid-century neighborhoods, 1010 La Salle Drive is more than just a new listing – it’s a living piece of Silicon Valley history. This beautifully preserved atrium-model Eichler home embodies the spirit of architectural innovation and tech heritage, located just steps from where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak first met and launched a revolution in computing. In the early 1970s, these otherwise tranquil Eichler-lined streets witnessed a chance meeting between the two young founders of Apple, whose friendship and garage electronics projects (like their infamous “blue box” phone phreaking device) helped spark the personal computer revolution eichlerhomesforsale.com. Steve Wozniak actually grew up in a Fairorchard Eichler on nearby Edmonton Avenue – a home he later hailed as “my favorite home ever” eichlerhomesforsale.com – and he recalls Steve Jobs being a frequent visitor, the pair spending countless hours tinkering and dreaming up ideas that would eventually change the world eichlerhomesforsale.com. This serendipitous connection under an Eichler roof not only forged a lifelong partnership, but it endows the Fairorchard neighborhood with a unique cultural legacy eichlerhomesforsale.com. Few neighborhoods can claim to blend mid-century modern charm with such a direct link to Silicon Valley’s origin story.
Beyond the Apple connection, Fairorchard’s roots run deep into California’s post-war boom and the Joseph Eichler legacy. Developed in the mid-1950s (circa 1954–1956) as one of Eichler’s early South Bay projects, Fairorchard was part of “a grand experiment to bring modernist design to mainstream California living” eichlerhomesforsale.com. Joseph Eichler – a visionary developer who built over 11,000 mid-century modern homes across California – pioneered the idea of making open-plan, glass-walled modern architecture accessible to middle-class families en.wikipedia.org. By the time Wozniak’s family moved to Fairorchard in the late 1960s, the neighborhood was already a well-established enclave of engineers, young families, and forward-thinking homeowners – exactly the kind of environment that nurtured Silicon Valley’s spirit of innovation eichlerhomesforsale.com. It’s no coincidence that Homestead High School, just down the road, educated both Wozniak and Jobs; the area’s excellent schools were another crossroads for future tech pioneers eichlerhomesforsale.com. Today, 1010 La Salle offers the rare opportunity to live at the intersection of design, culture, and Silicon Valley legacy – where a timeless Mid-Century Modern lifestyle converges with the very origins of tech history.
Architectural Integrity and Timeless Eichler Style
1010 La Salle Drive is a classic Eichler atrium-model home that has retained its architectural integrity while seamlessly integrating modern comforts. Stepping inside, you’ll find that mid-century modern design takes center stage, with an open floor plan and iconic features that made Eichler homes legendary. Here, form and function harmonize to create a light-filled, indoor-outdoor living experience that feels as fresh today as it did when the home was built. Some of the standout architectural and design elements include:
Post-and-Beam Construction: Exposed post-and-beam framing allows for wide-open living spaces free of interior load-bearing walls, achieving the airy, open layout Eichler intended eichlerhomesforsale.com. The home’s structure is elegantly honest – you can see the beams themselves, lending a sense of rhythm and clarity to each room. This construction not only adds visual character with its clean lines and tongue-and-groove wood ceilings, but also enables expansive spans of glass that blur the boundary between inside and out.
Floor-to-Ceiling Glass Walls: True to Eichler’s “bring the outside in” philosophy, the home features extensive floor-to-ceiling glass facing the private atrium and backyard gardens eichlerhomesforsale.com. Natural light pours in from all sides, and every major living area enjoys views of greenery – whether it’s the central atrium’s palm trees or the backyard’s serene landscaping. These glass walls create a seamless flow to the outdoors, perfect for California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Open the sliding doors and the living room and patio become one continuous space, ideal for entertaining or simply enjoying a sunny afternoon.
Signature Atrium at the Heart: As an atrium-model Eichler, 1010 La Salle is built around a sunny open-air atrium – essentially an outdoor room at the center of the home. This was a revolutionary feature Eichler introduced in the mid-1950s, and Fairorchard was among the first tracts to debut this “iconic atrium model”, literally placing nature in the heart of the floor plan eichlerhomesforsale.com. Step through the front door, and instead of a conventional foyer you enter a landscaped atrium courtyard, open to the sky. It’s a private zen-like garden where you might sip your morning coffee next to a Japanese maple, under the open air, yet completely enclosed by the walls of your home. The atrium’s floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors connect to all the main living areas, so every day you experience a gentle interplay of outdoors and indoors – rain or shine. By night, imagine the glow of the home’s vintage oval globe lights reflecting off the glass as the atrium becomes a magical lantern-like space. This unique design blurs indoor and outdoor living in a way few homes can match eichlerhomesforsale.com.
Mid-Century Materials and Details: This home is a treasure trove of original mid-century details lovingly preserved. You’ll find rich Philippine mahogany wood paneling accenting the walls – a hallmark of Eichler interiors that brings warmth and texture to the minimalist architecture eichlerhomesforsale.com. Overhead, the exposed wood ceilings (with tongue-and-groove planks) draw the eye upwards, adding natural charm and visual continuity from room to room eichlerhomesforsale.com. Period-correct globe pendant lights hang in some spaces (including the atrium), casting a soft even glow and reinforcing the home’s 1960s character eichlerhomesforsale.com. The built-in cabinetry, much of it crafted from Danish teak or mahogany, blends form with function – providing storage with a sleek, furniture-like quality that complements the architecture. Even the original brick wood-burning fireplace in the open living/dining area has the low-slung, modernist styling of the era. These authentic details have been thoughtfully paired with sensitive updates – for instance, the kitchen has been modernized with contemporary appliances and quartz countertops, but it still floods with natural light and maintains a clean, mid-century look. Throughout the home, updates have honored Eichler’s intent: preserving the open-plan layout, unadorned modernist lines, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions that define the Eichler aesthetic eichlerhomesforsale.com. It’s this balance of vintage character and modern convenience that makes 1010 La Salle feel timeless.
Rear view of 1010 La Salle Drive’s living areas opening to the backyard. Broad eaves, post-and-beam construction, and walls of glass create a sheltered indoor-outdoor environment, while the backyard’s custom hardscape and plantings evoke a tranquil, zen-like atmosphere (courtesy of EichlerHomesForSale.com).
Atrium and Backyard Oasis: The indoor-outdoor flow culminates in not one but two private outdoor retreats – the central atrium and the backyard. The atrium, as described, is an open-air courtyard at the core of the home. It’s been thoughtfully landscaped with lush planters and stone hardscape, creating a zen-like sanctuary that you can enjoy in total privacy (since it’s enclosed by the house on all sides). Meanwhile, the backyard offers a more expansive outdoor living space – beautifully designed with a mix of patio areas, custom hardscape, and mature landscaping. Tall, swaying trees and carefully placed shrubs provide dappled shade and a sense of peace. You might find a gravel meditation corner, a dining patio for summer BBQs, and perhaps even a bubbling fountain or fire pit (features that many Eichler owners add to complement the tranquil vibe). Because the home is oriented to maximize privacy, you can relax or entertain in the backyard as if you were in your own little world. Yet, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass, the indoors and outdoors are visually connected at all times – whether you’re cooking in the kitchen or reading in the living room, you enjoy constant views of greenery and open sky. This harmonious blend of house and garden exemplifies Eichler’s philosophy and truly turns everyday living into something special.
With its 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, plus a flexible bonus room, the layout of 1010 La Salle caters to both family life and work-from-home needs. Eichler homes of this model often include a multipurpose room (sometimes originally a hobby room or den) that can function as a home office, art studio, or playroom – providing valuable extra space beyond the standard bedrooms. The bedroom wing is thoughtfully separated from the living areas for quiet and privacy, and large windows in each bedroom ensure that the connection to nature continues throughout the house. In short, architecture and comfort unite here: radiant heated floors (a common Eichler feature) warm the home on cool mornings eichlerhomesforsale.com, while the natural ventilation from the atrium and operable skylights keep it cool on summer evenings. Every inch of this residence reflects “Mid-Mod” magic – from the iconic post-and-beam profile to the vibrant period-appropriate front door that greets you. It’s no surprise that those who grew up in Eichlers, like Wozniak, hold such fond memories of them – these homes have an intangibly inspiring quality, encouraging creativity, community, and a connection to the environment eichlerhomesforsale.com.
Fairorchard: Where Tech History and Mid-Century Modern Lifestyle Converge
Fairorchard isn’t just any Sunnyvale subdivision – it’s a storied mid-century modern enclave that perfectly represents the marriage of Silicon Valley’s two great legacies: innovation in technology and innovation in design. Located in Sunnyvale’s southwest corner (near the Cupertino border), Fairorchard today is a peaceful neighborhood of cul-de-sacs and gently curving lanes, lined exclusively with Eichler homes. Every house in this pocket is an Eichler, creating a cohesive architectural ambiance that instantly transports you to the 1950s and ’60s. In fact, Fairorchard is considered “quintessential Eichler territory” – a showcase of Joseph Eichler’s mid-century vision for California living eichlerhomesforsale.com.
Historically, Fairorchard holds a legendary place in Silicon Valley lore as the place where Apple’s co-founders first crossed paths eichlerhomesforsale.com. As mentioned, Apple’s Steve Wozniak spent his youth in this neighborhood and met Steve Jobs through a mutual friend here, bonding over electronics in a Fairorchard living room eichlerhomesforsale.com. The knowledge that two teenagers plotted a revolution in computing on these very streets lends an almost magical aura to the community – a reminder that innovative minds can find fertile ground in the most unassuming places eichlerhomesforsale.com. Neighbors take pride in this legacy, but they also value the neighborhood for what it is day-to-day: a close-knit, family-friendly community with enduring architectural character.
From an architectural standpoint, Fairorchard was an important chapter in Eichler’s body of work. Joseph Eichler collaborated with architects Anshen & Allen (and later Jones & Emmons) to design this tract, responding to buyer feedback for slightly larger homes and modern features eichlerhomesforsale.com. The development comprises 54 single-story Eichler homes laid out along Wright Ave, Edmonton Ave, La Salle Dr (where 1010 is located), Helena Dr, and a portion of Homestead Road eichlerhomesforsale.com. At the time, these models represented an evolution in Eichler design – floor plans ranging from 3-bedroom, ~1,370 sq ft models up to 4-bedroom models nearly 1,900 sq ft in size eichlerhomesforsale.com. In fact, Fairorchard’s homes were distinctly larger on average than Eichler’s earlier 1940s tracts, a direct response to the needs of growing post-war families. This tract was also among the first to feature both the traditional L-shaped courtyard models and the new atrium models that Eichler was pioneering. The atrium concept – as seen in 1010 La Salle – would soon become an Eichler signature, “blurring the line between indoors and outdoors” by literally bringing a patio garden into the center of the home eichlerhomesforsale.com. In Fairorchard you can observe this turning point in design: some homes retain the older courtyard layout (where the garden space is at the side of the house), while many, like this one, embrace the open-air atrium that defines Eichler’s later masterpieces.
Strolling through Fairorchard is like walking through a mid-century time capsule. The street view is distinctly “California modern” – you see low-pitched rooflines with extended eaves, clean geometric facades in vertical wood siding, and carports or modest garages integrated so discreetly that the cars never dominate the front elevation eichlerhomesforsale.com. Instead of front porches or bay windows, Eichler facades often present a private face to the street (perhaps a battened fence or frosted glass panels shielding the atrium), with the drama reserved for inside, when you enter the atrium or living space and suddenly everything opens to glass and light. Many Fairorchard homes, including 1010 La Salle, retain original features like the mahogany paneled walls and polished concrete floors with in-floor radiant heating – details that scream “authentic Eichler” to aficionados eichlerhomesforsale.com. There’s a strong ethos of preservation here: homeowners understand the architectural significance of their homes and often choose to restore rather than remodel. It’s common to see period-appropriate touches like butterfly chairs on a porch or freshly painted front doors in retro hues, as residents celebrate the mid-century aesthetic eichlerhomesforsale.com. In short, Fairorchard has remained remarkably intact as an Eichler showcase for over 65 years. As a result, the neighborhood doesn’t feel like a mish-mash of eras – it feels unified in style, every house clearly an Eichler yet each with its own personality. The cohesive ambiance is one of understated elegance and casual California living, exactly what Eichler strived for.
Yet Fairorchard is far from a sleepy museum piece – it’s a vibrant modern community. Many of the current residents are professionals in the tech industry, drawn to the area not only for its design pedigree but also its unbeatable location in the heart of Silicon Valley eichlerhomesforsale.com. Apple’s spectacular new campus (Apple Park) in Cupertino is literally a few minutes’ drive (or a short bike ride) from 1010 La Salle eichlerhomesforsale.com. In fact, one of the later Sunnyvale Eichler tracts (Fairwood) was built just a mile from the Apple campus, and Eichler neighborhoods remain popular with Apple employees who enjoy biking to work. Likewise, other major tech employers like Google, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Nvidia have campuses within a convenient commute from this location, making it ideal for those working in Silicon Valley’s core. But despite being so close to everything, Fairorchard manages to feel tucked away and tranquil. The neighborhood’s design (a small grid of only a few blocks with no through traffic) means cars are sparse and streets are calm – even the main avenue has an “almost cul-de-sac” atmosphere eichlerhomesforsale.com. This creates a safe, friendly environment where you’ll often see neighbors out walking their dogs or kids riding bicycles without worry eichlerhomesforsale.com. On weekends, families host impromptu barbecues in their front courtyards or gather for block parties – there’s a palpable sense of community here, fostered in part by Eichler’s open layouts. With glass-walled atriums and open carports, the architecture subtly encourages neighborly interaction; people wave hello through their atrium screens or chat with passersby over low fences, fulfilling Eichler’s vision of “community through design” eichlerhomesforsale.com. It’s the kind of neighborhood where everyone knows the names of the kids down the street, yet the design of the homes also preserves privacy when you want it – a perfect balance of openness and retreat.
Another major draw for Fairorchard (and one that today’s buyers greatly appreciate) is the access to top-rated schools. 1010 La Salle is located in the coveted Cupertino Union School District and Fremont Union High School District, which together offer some of the best public schooling options in the Bay Area. The local trio – West Valley Elementary, Cupertino Middle School, and Homestead High School – are all highly regarded. In fact, the Fairorchard area’s schools are often noted as “the most coveted in Sunnyvale,” a key reason families seek homes here. West Valley Elementary (K-5) boasts strong academics and a tight-knit parent community, while Cupertino Middle provides an excellent bridge into high school with robust STEM programs. Homestead High, just a short walk or bike ride away, is not only well-ranked for academics (and offers specialized programs like the Fremont STEM Academy), but it’s also rich in history – it’s the alma mater of both Wozniak and Jobs, as well as other notable tech figures. The continuity of excellent education from K through 12 makes this neighborhood ideal for those raising children. Additionally, being in Sunnyvale, residents benefit from outstanding city services (libraries, parks, recreation programs) and nearby amenities. Just a few blocks east is the Sunnyvale Fairbrae Swim & Racquet Club, a private club founded in the Eichler era that remains a popular spot for swim lessons, tennis matches, and summer picnics. For everyday convenience, the shopping centers along Fremont Avenue and Homestead Road (with grocery stores, cafes, and services) are only minutes away. And Downtown Sunnyvale – with its vibrant Murphy Street dining scene, weekly farmer’s market, and new CityLine development – is an easy 10-minute drive, offering nightlife, restaurants, and a Caltrain station for stress-free trips up to Palo Alto or San Francisco. Despite its tucked-away feel, Fairorchard has fantastic connectivity: you can hop on Highway 85 or I-280 within a few miles, reaching the greater Bay Area with ease, or take surface streets into Cupertino, Mountain View, or Santa Clara in no time. For tech workers and urban professionals, this means a short commute coupled with a serene home base – truly the best of both worlds.
Conclusion: Legacy Living in the Heart of Sunnyvale
In summary, 1010 La Salle Drive isn’t just an Eichler house on a map – it’s a rare opportunity to live where design excellence, community spirit, and Silicon Valley lore all intersect. The home itself delivers everything an Eichler enthusiast could want: iconic mid-century architecture updated for modern living, abundant light and indoor-outdoor harmony, and a preservation of original style that makes it feel like a piece of art you can live in. Its Fairorchard location further elevates it into something truly special. Here, you’re stepping into a neighborhood that’s essentially an open-air museum of mid-century modernism, lovingly maintained by its residents, and at the same time a neighborhood that played a supporting role in the early days of tech innovation (a young Wozniak soldering circuits in a garage down the street, perhaps, or Steve Jobs sauntering over after school to collaborate on a project) eichlerhomesforsale.com. There’s a palpable sense of pride and continuity – knowing that the walls of glass around you have witnessed decades of family memories and even a few moments of tech history.
For the new owner, moving into 1010 La Salle means joining this story. You’ll be preserving a piece of California modernism for the next generation while enjoying a lifestyle that is, in many ways, better than ever – with today’s Silicon Valley at your fingertips. Imagine mornings in the atrium with the sunlight filtering down, neighbors waving as they bike to the Apple campus; evenings in the open living room, watching the sunset reflect off your backyard trees; weekends exploring nearby parks or hosting friends for a mid-century-themed cocktail hour under the globe lights. It’s a lifestyle that is uniquely Silicon Valley: forward-looking yet deeply connected to the past, high-tech yet unplugged when you want it to be, cosmopolitan yet rooted in community.
In a fast-paced world, 1010 La Salle Drive offers a chance to slow down and live deliberately – to savor architecture, history, and community every day. This home is truly “where tech meets design” in the most authentic way. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning an architecturally significant home or wanted to be part of a neighborhood with soul, this rare Eichler gem in Fairorchard might just be the opportunity of a lifetime. Come see for yourself why mid-century modern design and Silicon Valley innovation make such a perfect pair in Sunnyvale’s Fairorchard – and prepare to fall in love with a home (and community) that prove legacy and lifestyle can go hand in hand.
Experience the magic of 1010 La Salle – where Mid-Century meets Modern Day, and where you can live the legacy of Silicon Valley every time you walk through your front door.
Sources:
Boyenga Team – “Fairorchard: Silicon Valley History in a Mid-Century Modern Neighborhood” eichlerhomesforsale.com
Eichler Network / Eichler Homes For Sale – Mid-century Eichler design details eichlerhomesforsale.com
Wikipedia – Joseph Eichler, background on Eichler’s development philosophy en.wikipedia.org