The Definitive Guide to Mid-Century Modern Homes in the Bay Area
Exploring Iconic Designs, Builders, and Neighborhoods
The Bay Area is one of the most architecturally diverse and historically rich regions in the United States when it comes to Mid-Century Modern homes. With a climate perfect for indoor-outdoor living and a population that embraced progressive design, Northern California became a testing ground for innovative architects and visionary developers who redefined postwar housing.
From atrium-centered Eichlers to the sculptural minimalism of Bahl Patio Homes, each MCM style found a unique expression here. Below is a curated list of the most iconic and influential Mid-Century Modern home types and builders that helped shape the modernist landscape of the Bay Area.
1. Eichler Homes
Builder: Joseph Eichler
Architects: Anshen + Allen, Jones & Emmons, Claude Oakland
Key Features:
Post-and-beam construction
Floor-to-ceiling glass walls
Central atriums and radiant floor heating
Indoor-outdoor integration
Neighborhoods:
Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, San Mateo Highlands, Cupertino, San Jose (Fairglen, Rose Glen), Concord, and more.
Eichlers are arguably the most well-known Mid-Century Modern homes in the Bay Area, with over 11,000 built between 1949 and 1974. Eichler believed in “bringing the outside in” and delivering modern design to the middle class.
2. Mackay Homes
Builders: John Mackay & Sons
Architects: Anshen + Allen (also designed for Eichler)
Key Features:
Vaulted ceilings and large glass sliders
Open-concept floor plans
Gable or butterfly rooflines
Atrium and courtyard options
Neighborhoods:
Santa Clara, Palo Alto, San Jose (Southwest and Cambrian areas)
Mackay Homes offered many of the same architectural features as Eichlers but with a slightly more traditional layout and affordability. Their designs balanced style and functionality for growing postwar families.
3. Streng Homes
Builders: Jim & Bill Streng
Architect: Carter Sparks
Key Features:
Sloped or flat roofs
Clerestory windows
Courtyards and radiant flooring
Customizable floorplans for Central Valley heat
Neighborhoods:
Davis, Sacramento, Elk Grove, Carmichael, Fair Oaks
Though based in the Sacramento Valley, Streng Homes share DNA with Eichlers and reflect the same commitment to modernist design, adapted for the hot inland climate. They're popular among MCM purists and practical homeowners alike.
4. Gavello Homes
Builders: The Gavello Brothers
Key Features:
Low-pitched or flat roofs
Large overhangs and wide eaves
Open floor plans with modern finishes
Integrated patios and oversized yards
Neighborhoods:
Sunnyvale (Ponderosa Park and surrounding streets), Mountain View, Santa Clara
Gavello Homes are an underappreciated gem of Bay Area MCM architecture. They offer classic modernist proportions and styling with a more relaxed, suburban feel.
5. Bahl Patio Homes
Builder: Bahl Corporation
Key Features:
Minimalist cube-like facades
Private, inward-facing courtyards
No front windows—focus on privacy
Designed for maximum use of space on small lots
Neighborhoods:
Sunnyvale, Mountain View, San Jose
Bahl Homes are sculptural, efficient, and quietly radical. These were early examples of zero-lot-line housing that maximized privacy while maintaining bold architectural forms. Their minimalism has aged beautifully in today’s design-forward market.
6. Brown and Kaufman Homes
Builders: Brown & Kaufman
Architects: Not as widely publicized
Key Features:
Vaulted ceilings with beam accents
Functional layouts with mid-mod touches
Generous living areas
Neighborhoods:
Cupertino (Monta Vista), Sunnyvale, parts of Los Altos
Brown and Kaufman homes are less recognized as “pure” MCM, but many designs incorporated key modernist principles like open floor plans, wood paneling, and seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor areas.
7. Anshen + Allen Custom Homes
Architects: Robert Anshen and Steve Allen
Key Features:
High-end custom MCM residences
Natural materials and minimalist forms
Iconic butterfly roofs and cantilevered volumes
Neighborhoods:
Scattered throughout the Peninsula, Palo Alto Hills, and Los Altos Hills
Anshen + Allen were pioneers of postwar modernism and designed many custom homes in addition to their work for Eichler and Mackay. Their homes stand as architectural landmarks.
8. Builder-Architect Collaborations (One-Offs and Customs)
Beyond tract developments, the Bay Area is filled with bespoke Mid-Century Modern homes designed by iconic architects like:
William Wurster
Mario Corbett
Campbell & Wong
Lundgren & Maurer
Joseph Esherick
These homes were often built on the hillsides of Los Altos Hills, Saratoga, Portola Valley, and Berkeley, embracing natural materials and topography.
Why Mid-Century Modern Still Matters Today
Mid-Century Modern homes offer something that many newer homes don’t: a sense of soul. Their use of space, light, simplicity, and honesty in materials continues to resonate with today’s homebuyers. The Bay Area, with its mild climate and design-savvy clientele, has preserved and restored these homes better than nearly any other region.
The Boyenga Team: Your Bay Area MCM Experts
As top-producing agents at Compass and specialists in architectural homes, Eric and Janelle Boyenga are known for their expertise in Mid-Century Modern properties — from classic Eichlers to rare Streng, Bahl, or Gavello homes.
Whether you're looking to sell a restored gem, find a move-in ready MCM, or even renovate a fixer with good bones, the Boyenga Team can guide you through every step. With access to Compass Concierge, a powerful marketing platform, and decades of experience in the Bay Area market, we help you buy or sell with confidence.
Explore all the iconic Mid-Century Modern homes found throughout the Bay Area, from Eichlers and Mackays to Streng, Bahl, Gavello, and more. Learn what makes each design unique and discover how the Boyenga Team at Compass can help you buy or sell your perfect modernist home.