If you’ve ever driven through neighborhoods in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, or San Ramon, you’ve probably noticed a repeating theme: arches. Arched entryways, arched porch openings, arched windows—they're everywhere. In fact, if your home was built after 1965, there's a good chance it features at least one.
These arches aren’t just decorative—they’re architectural signatures of a major design movement that swept across California tract housing in the late 1960s and 1970s. The style is called Neo-Mediterranean, and it became one of the most influential looks in postwar suburban development, especially in the Tri-Valley.
What is Neo-Mediterranean architecture?
Neo-Mediterranean design emerged in the mid-20th century as a reinterpretation of earlier Spanish Revival and Mediterranean Revival styles. It combined nostalgic charm with suburban practicality—think:
Originally popular between 1915 and 1940, these elements made a comeback in the 1960s. But this time, the revival was driven not by architects, but by production home builders. Their mission? Deliver affordable elegance to the masses in growing suburban communities.
Why so many arches in tract homes?
The arch became the hallmark of Neo-Mediterranean design. It was a cost-effective way to add visual interest and a sense of romance to otherwise standardized homes. Builders throughout California, especially in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, used arches to instantly communicate style, warmth, and curb appeal.
In many Tri-Valley neighborhoods, the arch is more than just a flourish—it's a motif repeated across entire streetscapes, from porch entries to multi-arched facades.
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood tour of Neo-Mediterranean arches in the Tri-Valley
Livermore: the arch capital of the Tri-Valley
By the late 1960s, Livermore had fully embraced the Neo-Mediterranean trend. Builders like H.C. Elliott, Sunset Homes, Hofmann, and Duc & Elliot made arches a defining element of their developments:
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| Hofmann's triple arches in Carlton Square (1967). |
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| Duc & Elliot's signature arch in Los Altos Heights (1967). |
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| Sunset Homes' double arches in Sunset West (1966)--a home which broke sales records. |
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| H.C. Elliott's signature arch in Somerset Homes (1968). |
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| Sunset went crazy and did 6 magnificent arches in Sunset East (1968). |
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| Sunset dialed it back to one arch at Shadowbrook (1974). |
Dublin: catching the trend late
Dublin’s early growth occurred just before the Neo-Mediterranean boom, but Hy Weisel's Proud Homes brought the style to life in the Ecco Park development:
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| Hy Weisel's arch in Ecco Park (1965). |
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Hy Weisel's arch in Ecco Park (1967).
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Pleasanton: a blend of Mediterranean and local character
From 1965 onward, Pleasanton developers began incorporating Neo-Mediterranean features across neighborhoods:
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| Morrison Homes' 4 1/2 arches in Pleasanton Valley (1965). |
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| Perma-Built's triple arches in Vintage Hills (1965). |
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| Besco's single arch in Val Vista (1967). |
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| Morrison Homes' tall arches in Valley Trails (1968). |
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| One of H. C. Elliott's best in Vintage Hills (1972). |
San Ramon: building a new town, one arch at a time
As a newly developing community in the late 1960s, South San Ramon was a blank canvas for Neo-Mediterranean design. Builders like Kay Homes, McGah-Bailey, W.W. Dean, and Carl Dame used arches extensively:
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| Kay Homes' arches in Rancho Solano (1965). |
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| Kay Homes' triple arches in Rancho Solano (1965). |
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| McGah-Bailey's triple arches in Casa Manana (1967). |
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| W. W. Dean's tall arches at Casa Ramon (1976). |
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| Carl Dame's arch at Twin Creeks South (1977). |
The lasting legacy of Neo-Mediterranean design in the Tri-Valley
The Neo-Mediterranean tract home is more than a nostalgic style—it’s a defining feature of California’s suburban identity. The use of arches in 1960s and 1970s home design created neighborhoods that still feel warm, inviting, and distinctive today.
These homes tell a story about an era when builders sought to combine historical romance with modern convenience—resulting in some of the most recognizable and beloved homes in the Tri-Valley.
Whether you're a local homeowner, architecture enthusiast, or real estate buff, next time you walk your neighborhood, take a look around. Those arches? They’re not just decoration—they’re history in plain sight.
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