Atherwood Explained

Atherwood Eichler Subdivision
Developer:Eichler Homes
Architect:Anshen and Allen
Completion Date:November 1950
Buildings:64
Coordinates:37.4607°N -122.2243°W
Pushpin Map:USA California Northern
Pushpin Relief:yes
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:US
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:California
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:San Mateo County
Subdivision Type3:City
Subdivision Name3:Redwood City

Atherwood is a subdivision in Redwood City, California, that was built in 1950 by housing developer Joseph Eichler. It was one of Eichler's first developments working with an architect and his first major subdivision in San Mateo County.[1] [2] It consists of 64 original single family homes designed by architectural firm Anshen and Allen based on their AA-1 design. The Atherwood subdivision is accessed by Atherwood Avenue off of SR-84 and is located at the border of Atherton and Redwood City.

Name

The name is a portmanteau from combining parts of Atherton and Redwood City since the subdivision is located on the border of the two cities. The only other use of this name is for an elementary school within the Simi Valley Unified School District.[3]

Butterfly roofs

The Atherwood subdivision is significant because it is the only architect-designed Eichler subdivision containing butterfly style roofs. While not exclusively featuring this style of roof, Atherwood contains 10 houses with butterfly roofs, it represents a critical number and should be considered as the first housing tract in California to feature this roof style.[4] Often, William Krisel is credited for popularizing the butterfly roof in mid-century modern housing tracts with the 1957 Twin Palms tract (16 with butterfly roofs out of 66 houses total), however Atherwood predates this tract by seven years.[5] [6]

Awards

Atherwood was noted as "Subdivision of the Year" by Architectural Forum in December 1950.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eichler's Early Years: 1949-'50 The First Subdivisions - Page 3 . Eichler Network . Marty Arbunich . May 22, 2022.
  2. Book: Adamson, Paul J. . November 30, 2002 . Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream . University Of Chicago Press . 1586851845.
  3. Web site: Atherwood Elementary School . . Simi Valley Unified School District . May 27, 2022.
  4. Web site: Why Do People Love Butterfly Roofs? . Dave Weinstein . The CA Modernist Blog . Eichler Network . July 1, 2020 . May 22, 2022.
  5. Web site: The Art + History Of The Midcentury Roofline . Sarah Jane Stone . Engaged Media . Atomic Ranch . June 2, 2017 . May 27, 2022.
  6. Web site: Return of the Butterflies: After years of hibernation following their mid-century boom, butterfly roofs are spreading their wings once again . Dave Weinstein . Eicher Network . Eichler Network . May 22, 2022.
  7. . Subdivision of the year . . New York, NY . Time Inc. . December 1950.