Early years In 1948 John Mackay built the first commercial building in downtown
Menlo Park, California (on Santa Cruz Avenue).
Design Mackay homes in the Modernist tract style are examples of
Modernist architecture that has come to be known as "California Modern". These homes typically feature glass walls, post-and-beam construction, enclosed patios and open floor plans in a style indebted to
Frank Lloyd Wright and
Mies van der Rohe. The Mackay homes were designed by
Anshen & Allen, the same architects who worked with
Joseph Eichler. The homes were known for their wonderful light and use of outdoor living space. Mackay's have raised foundations and forced air heating, unlike Eichler's slab foundations and radiant heating. Joseph Eichler's son Ned Eichler stated in a 2001 interview, "There were
Kaufman and Broad, there was Mackay Homes, and there were local builders wherever we were building," when asked about competition in the residential building market in the early years. Mackay homes were built for 30 years, and included over 15,000 apartments, homes and office parks in 13 states. •
Fairmede: Santa Clara tract built , with about 100 modern homes, a few blocks from Maywood tract •
Sunshine Meadows: This Santa Clara tract built has homes of a different design and earlier vintage, and many have been greatly altered. The homes in this neighborhood won a National Merit Award from the
American Institute of Architects in 1954. most of the homes have been modified. •
Monta Loma: This large Mountain View tract built circa 1954–1956 was originally called "Oakwood". In large part the homes appear intact, and the neighborhood has a variety of home models.
Steve Jobs grew up in this neighborhood in a Mackay home on 286 Diablo Avenue. •
Woodlands: Walnut Creek tract built circa 1961–1962 == Personal life ==