Modern Valley

A Living-Conditioned Home in Sacramento

2011-03-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

Rendering for the Western Prize Home by Don Emmons, AIA. LIFE May 2, 1955

Living Conditioned

Best I can gather, the Living-Conditioned Homes program was put together as a collaboration between the magazine LIVING for Young Homemakers and either GE / Hotpoint or Westinghouse. Living-Conditioned was a manifesto by the magazine which embarked to design, equip and furnish homes that conditioned.

The ... "Living-Conditioned" home embodies the principles of Living-Conditioning, and summarizes the advantages of sound-conditioning -- the acoustical planning to reduce unwanted noise; of light-conditioning -- illumination for visual comfort and beauty, carefully studied to apply to the house the benefits of electrical progress; of safety-conditioning; of climate conditioning; of color-conditioning, a coordinated interior and exterior decoration plan which makes the home visually and psychologically more pleasing.

--From a 1957 sales brochure (courtesy sparklegem)

Sacramento Bee, Aug 1, 1953

Later on in the program, LIVING had the architectural firm of Palmer & Krisel AIA design perhaps LIVING's most notable group of these type homes in Northridge, California.

A wonderful brochure from Northridge is viewable here.

While the Northridge "Living Conditioned" homes were a complete tract development, early on the program attempted to have builders construct one of four commissioned plans (each regionally specific) in almost every state in the US. Around 1953, one of the plans designed by San Francisco architect Don Emmons (Frederick's brother) was built as a model home in the Meadowview area of Sacramento.

Sacramento

Touted as "The California Research Home", the home features "every room [opening] to a terrace, making indoor living inseparable from outdoor living". The plan even provided for integrated landscaping with "every bush, tree, shrub and flower provided for." Interiors "completely planned and executed by Bowman and Long"

Today, the home doesn't look too appealing sited on main thoroughfare in a sultry area of town. Enclosed by a chain link fence around the perimeter and a multi-story strip mall facade to the back, it feels like looking at an exquisite, exotic animal, caged. But perhaps with the "Living Conditioned" ethos, once inside, it still functions as it was designed.

Special thanks to sparklegem & Perks of the Lottaliving forum for scans of the Northridge brochure & Joe Barthow for additional pointers.

Developers : Frontier Homes, Carmichael

2010-01-01T22:43:00.000-08:00


Sacramento Bee, May 1955

A Home of Your Own

Just right for you. Why not stop over and see for yourself?

3 bedrooms, fireplace, [ illegible ], central heating & picture windows in every room.

R.P. WATT Developer and Builder, IV 7-2812 FRONTIER Homes in Carmichael

Located on Walnut Ave between Arden Way and El Camino Ave Adjacent to [illegible] Parochial School

A Frontier Home on St. Lynn Way, Carmichael, CA

Seward Ct : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-12-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

5611 Seward Ct, Sacramento, CA

"A River Park landmark, designed by Carter Sparks in 1963, on the market for the 1st time. This special home has a large lot in a cul-de-sac with access out a back gate to the American River. Large entry courtyard has a slate staircase to the 2nd floor residence where you enter a great room with wood floors, corner fireplace and a wall of windows looking out over an ipe deck, pool and river beyond. Cathedral ceilings flood the home with light. Downstairs guest quarters, 2 car garage, RV access."

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	2.5	2,408	.xx ac	1963	SOLD

Columbia Drive : MorePhotos

2009-11-20T18:02:00.001-08:00

Fair Oaks Blvd : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-11-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

3684 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
4	3	2,544	.48 ac	1970	1,295,000

Elkhorn Village, West Sacramento

2009-10-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Streng Brothers : SacBee 1970

2009-10-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

Streng Bros. Article in Sacramento Bee, Nov 15, 1970. D1. Page 1 of 2

"Streng Bros. Acquires Area Reputation With Middle-Price Contemporary Homes"

By Bruce Grant

Architects' choice might be one way to describe Streng Bros. homes.

James P. and G WIlliam Streng, a pair of native Pennsylvanians, have been specializing in dwellings of contemporary design for 10 of their 14 years of home building in Sacramento and Davis.

They take pride in the fact that they have built homes for 27 architects in the past 10 years.

"We consider ourselves the contemporary home builder in Sacramento," said Jim Streng during an interview.

Hamlet Pl : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-10-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Siler House
Hamlet Pl. Carmichael, CA
Carmichael

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
2	2	1,631	.18 ac	1966	$ 475,000

Clear Circle : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-10-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Clear Circle, Carmichael, CA
Carmichael

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	2	1,451	.23 ac	1974	SOLD

Potrero Way : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-10-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

Frame House

Potrero Way, Sacramento, CA

South Land Park

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
4	4	3,275	20,038 sq. ft	1958	SOLD

True Contemporary

2009-10-07T16:34:00.000-07:00

Streng Brothers newspaper advertisement from April 1964.
Notice the "Better Living Electrically" symbol and the model home address - 5237 Damon Ave - which in actuality, isn't a "contemporary" styled home, rather a ranch styled one.

Were the ranch houses in Overbrook built by the Streng Brothers? Who were they designed by?

Mayer Way : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-10-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Mayer Way, Carmichael, CA 95608
Carmichael

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	2	1,809	8,712	1974	SOLD

Old Mill Rd : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-09-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

Rumor is these bricks used to be part of the California State Capitol. Think I remember reading they were from the basement..

Old Mill Rd, Cameron Park, CA 95682
Cameron Park

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
2	3	3,200	5.0 ac	1982	SOLD

4712 Kenneth Ave

2009-09-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

4712 Kenneth Ave, Carmichael, CA 95608
Carmichael

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	1	1,408	10,062	1954	$274,900

The Streng Escape Window

2009-09-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

Apparently the design of the window located off one of the front bedrooms adjacent to the entry walkway served a purpose in safety.

Seeing as the front bedrooms didn't have any windows that one could escape from in the case of a fiery inferno (just clerestories) one would be able to break through the peculiar window to escape the flames, smoke or screaming kids.

This little tidbit comes to us from original owner, Don, of the Overbrook Streng neighborhood.

Boston Ct

2009-09-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

Boston Court, Sacramento, CA 95864
Sacramento

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	2	1,705	.230 ac	1968	SOLD

Streng Brothers Plan 943 / 944 Brochure

2009-09-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

This wonderful little piece of ephemera comes from Eugene and Jean, original owners from the Overbrook Streng track.

An original sales handout showing models 943 and 944 from 1970.
In addition to showing floorplans, the brochure lists major accouterments for the homes.

Click on the images for enlarged views!

Capehart Housing, Antelope, CA

2009-09-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Originally a military housing development near Sacramento, CA. Designed by Eichler architects A. Quincy Jones + Frederick Emmons, and built by Sun Gold, Inc in 1957, this sprawling tract is now a gated community called "The Arbors".

The complex is surrounded by a dilapidated chain link fence, cinder block walls and it's main entry fortified with a gated checkpoint. Its location next to an abandoned golf course makes for wonderful vistas.

Near Antelope / Watt aves. in Antelope, CA.

5104 Tangerine Ave

2009-09-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

5104 Tangerine Ave. Sacramento, CA 95823
Freeport/ Franklin

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
2	2	1,522	9,148	1976	162,500

Via Redfin

Columbia Dr : Custom Carter Sparks

2009-09-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Columbia Dr, Carmichael, CA
Camichael

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	3	3,143	20,437	1961	SOLD

6920 Waterview Way

2009-09-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

Streng Brothers "Transitional Model" Home in Pocket

6920 Waterview Way, Sacramento, CA 95831
Pocket

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
4	2	2,473	8,102	1978	$ 399,950

Fair Hill Rd

2009-09-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

Fair Hill Rd. Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	3	2,638	1.44 ac	1958	SOLD

7729 Eastgate Ave.

2009-09-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

Streng Brothers atrium home in mostly original condition!

7729 Eastgate Ave. Citrus Heights, CA 95610
Citrus Heights

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	2	2,088	9,148	1975	$ 265,000

via Estately

Custom Carter Sparks

2009-09-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

Gretchen over at the informative Sacramento Eichler based Eichlerific has posted about a couple wonderful Carter Sparks ( the Streng Brothers' primary architect ) custom designs. She also has a good roundup of the limited biographical info about Mr. Sparks.

6517 S. Land Park Dr

2009-09-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

6517 S. Land Park Dr. Sacramento, CA 95831
South Land Park / Greenhaven

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
4	3	2,092	10,019	1956	$ 499,000

via Movoto

3850 Robertson Ave

2009-09-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

3850 Robertson Ave. Sacramento, CA 95821
Sacramento

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
4	3	2,087	13,939	1962	$ 469,000

via Redfin

2404 Upham Ct

2009-09-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

2404 Upham Ct. Carmichael, CA 95608

Carmichael

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	1	1,053	13,199	1954	$ 174,900

via Movoto

1143 Sherburn Ave

2009-09-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

1143 Sherburn Ave. Sacramento, CA 95822

South Land Park / Greenhaven

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	1	1,131	5,227	1949	$ 220,000

via Redfin

5233 Bellwood Way

2009-08-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

5233 Bellwood Way, Carmichael, CA 95608
Carmichael

Beds	Baths	Sq. Ft	Lot	Year Built	Asking
3	2	2,108	.330 ac	1973	$ SOLD