Tifal brothers

Eldest brother Gustav first settled in Monrovia, California in 1909, looking to recuperate after finishing a project in Mexico.

[1] The Tifals also acted as developers, and between 1911 and 1914 they built more than fifty houses in the East 52nd Place Tract on a speculative basis for around $2000 ($61,657 in 2023) each.

[1] Charles, the youngest brother, designed most of the Tifal homes despite having no formal architectural training, while Gustav and William ran the company and oversaw construction.

[1][2][3] The Tifals were defining contributors to American Craftsman architecture, their houses representing the design, materials, and craftsmanship of the movement.

Characteristic elements of Tifal houses include a one story height, an exterior sheathed in either wood shingles or clapboard, and a low-pitched gable roofs.