Copyright 2008-2024: Justin Wood

Donations always welcome. I run this site with my own funds and my own time, both of which are in rare supply. If you find this site useful or entertaining, please consider a small donation to help keep it up and running. Thank you - Justin Wood






Welcome to the Carter Sparks Archive


Pencil Rendering of the Fava House (1956) by Carter Sparks

Dear Reader,

This project originally started as a private repository for notes and research related to the Sacramento, California area architect, Carter Sparks. Sparks practiced a contemporary style of design from roughly the mid-1950's until the early 1990's. He was best known for his design work on behalf of the Streng Brothers designing "modern" tract homes. For more on Sparks' work and biography there is an excellent series written by David Weinstein for CA Modern Magazine. Additional research and information can be found on Gretchen Steinberg's Eichlerific blog.

The archive is deeply thankful to a myriad of helpful folks including, but not limited to, Carter Sparks' daughter Jennifer Dare Sparks, Dodi Sparks, the one and only Gretchen Steinberg, Kris Liannin Lang, David Weinstein, Zann Gates, David Toerge, Don Wolf, Steve Streng, Nick V, Laura Wood and many passionate individual owners.

Of course, this catalog of works is still incomplete. There are more works out there, and some that are gone forever. One of the intentions of this archive is to catalog and bring awareness to Sparks' works so that they may be appreciated now and saved when they are threatened.

Any and all additional information and stories are welcomed! Just email the archive at sparksarchive@gmail.com and share.

Conversely, if you are the owner of one of these homes and feel the need to have specific information removed for privacy, please contact me and we'll see what we can do.

Thanks and enjoy!
- Justin Wood

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Donations :

Donations always welcome! I run this site with my own funds and my own time, both of which are in rare supply. If you find this site useful or entertaining, please consider a small donation to help keep it up and running. Thanks!







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Contact :

sparksarchive@gmail.com

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About Carter Sparks

By Gretchen Steinberg of SacMod and Eichlerific

Carter Sparks is one of Sacramento's most widely-recognized, beloved, and celebrated architects. His largest body of work (over 3,000 homes) was for Streng Bros. Homes in the greater Sacramento area. He also designed dozens of custom homes.

Sparks studied engineering at Oregon State University before his studies were interrupted by WWII, during which he served as an ensign air navigator for the Navy. He resumed his studies after the war, and in 1950 earned a Bachelor of the Arts in Architecture from UC Berkeley. Sparks worked as a draftsman for two architectural firms in San Francisco: first for Mario Corbett, and later with Anshen and Allen (who designed homes for Joseph Eichler). In Sacramento, he was a designer with Gordon Stafford. After earning his state license, Sparks opened his own firm in 1954. He partnered with Donald Thaden for a few years, but primarily worked as a sole practitioner.

Sparks was born on February 26, 1923 and passed away October 30, 1996