Broadmoor Tustin
...is a community of 127 California Modern style houses located in central Tustin, the heart of Orange County California, near the 5 and 55 Freeways Interchange.
This website is dedicated to the documentation, preservation and appreciation of these classic affordable Orange County modern homes built in the Bauhaus style during the 1960s.
History
In the spring of 1968, Orange County California was a fragrant patchwork of strawberry fields, fruit orchards and new housing tracts. Gasoline was 34 cents a gallon and a Big Mac hamburger cost 49 cents. Two years earlier, the surf movie "Endless Summer" showcased the notion of a carefree, fun-loving outdoor lifestyle. Soon to follow were the iconic generational events of Woodstock and the Summer of Love.
Young America was caught up in a wave of expanding social and political thought. This influenced architects and interior decorators to experiment with bold new housing designs for ordinary people.
Broadmoor Tustin is a creation of that era -- a tract of affordable California Modern homes constructed on a former walnut orchard in the heart of Orange County. Model homes opened the weekend of May 5, 1968, and the news was the lead story of the Los Angeles Times real estate section. The article described how merchant builder Richard B. Smith had hired architects Robert G. Jones and Associates to design affordable single family detached homes with distinctive horizontal lines, recessed entries and glass enclosed atriums.
Four house models ranged in size from approximately 1,300 to 1,800 square feet. There were twelve distinctive exterior looks rendered in earth tones, all distinctively modern and with Mediterranean touches.
Inside, every floor plan featured an atruim. The kitchens sported sleek Formica counters and pass-through windows to outdoor snack bars. Buyers could choose their new appliances in the latest colors of the day: avocado or harvest gold. The ribbon on the whole package was membership in the Cabana Club -- a private community pool and neighborhood park.
The Home Models, Past and Present
1968
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2008
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Broadmoor Today
Interest in this classic Orange County neighborhood continues to grow. In the spring of 2009, Broadmoor Tustin was featured in the internationally circulated architecture quarterly,
Atomic Ranch Magazine.
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As homebuyers rethink the material excesses of the past decades, Broadmoor's green-friendly design and convenient central location are more relevant than ever. The community is naturally connected to public transportation and within walking distance of Old Town Tustin, schools, several markets, numerous restaurants and stores.
At home, Broadmoor's floorplans were designed for a carefree indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Atriums capture breezes and natural light. Tustin's mild climate is comfortable year-round and perfect for growing backyard citrus, tomatoes and herbs. The neighborhood is friendly and inclusive.
Recreational opportunities are everywhere. Parks and bicycle trails are abundant. Newport Pier is just 10 miles away. During the holidays, Santa even makes a personal visit to Broadmoor, courtesy of the Tustin Police Department.
