Bungalows: Domestic Design at the Dawn of the Auto Age
Craftsman details, open floor plans and detached garages make the bungalow-style home an enduring favorite
As the Great War came to its end and the Roaring Twenties started, America became ever increasingly an automobile dominated society. Cars, cheap gas and the availability of inexpensive land created a housing boom in the suburbs and outlying areas around the cities. A new house style, the bungalow, came about as the result.
Though the particulars varied from location to location (a Chicago bungalow is visually very different from its Southern California cousin), the bungalow was typically small, with all its living spaces on one floor. The houses typically had five or six rooms, with two or three bedrooms and one bathroom.
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As much as these homes were brought about by the growing popularity of the car, it would take a subsequent generation of domestic design (ranches, split-levels, 1970s Colonials) and larger lots to fully integrate the garage with the house. In bungalows, the garage was typically detached and accessed by a back alley or, if the lot was wide enough, a side driveway.
Expanded, renovated and updated, bungalows have an enduring quality that make them enviable homes for today's family. Many cities across the country have actively promoted the preservation and renovation of bungalows. Chicago, in fact, has a citywide initiative, the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, to encourage and strengthen the many bungalow neighborhoods in the city.
An interesting side note is that the term "bungalow" originated in India and has Hindi roots. It was used to describe small lodgings and later came to mean a one-story, detached home with a veranda.
Though the particulars varied from location to location (a Chicago bungalow is visually very different from its Southern California cousin), the bungalow was typically small, with all its living spaces on one floor. The houses typically had five or six rooms, with two or three bedrooms and one bathroom.
More: Shingle-Style Homes from Seaside to Suburb
As much as these homes were brought about by the growing popularity of the car, it would take a subsequent generation of domestic design (ranches, split-levels, 1970s Colonials) and larger lots to fully integrate the garage with the house. In bungalows, the garage was typically detached and accessed by a back alley or, if the lot was wide enough, a side driveway.
Expanded, renovated and updated, bungalows have an enduring quality that make them enviable homes for today's family. Many cities across the country have actively promoted the preservation and renovation of bungalows. Chicago, in fact, has a citywide initiative, the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, to encourage and strengthen the many bungalow neighborhoods in the city.
An interesting side note is that the term "bungalow" originated in India and has Hindi roots. It was used to describe small lodgings and later came to mean a one-story, detached home with a veranda.
Bungalows in the South and Southeastern parts of the United States are typically built of wood and heavily influenced by the Craftsmen style. The large front porch extends the living space outside, and broad, the elephant columns support the low sloping roof.
In the Chicago area and upper Midwest in general, bungalows were built long and narrow to fit long, narrow lots. Second-floor living spaces were created under the roofs, with dormers added for natural light and air. The Chicago bungalow is mostly a brick structure with a solidity that befits the "city of the big shoulders."
Whether new or a century old, West Coast bungalows are typically built of wood and influenced by the Arts and Crafts and Craftsmen styles. These bungalows also have front porches providing outdoor living space for the milder climate.
Another West Coast bungalow influenced by the Craftsman style is, like the Chicago bungalow we saw earlier, long and thin to fit a narrow lot. The small front porch roof is supported by elephant columns.
Bungalows incorporated the open floor plan that was becoming popular early in the 20th century. The living and dining rooms, traditionally separated by a full wall, were starting to be combined with just a bit of woodwork between the two.
Though initially intended to be modest homes, it wasn't long before bungalows became quite large. Even at a larger scale, bungalows more often than not rely on Arts and Crafts and Craftsman aesthetics.
Bungalow living rooms are typically anchored by a large fireplace flanked with built-in cabinetry and shelving. These fireplaces could be brick, stone or faced with a decorative tile to add color and interest to the living room. In the early days, these fireplaces provided warmth, hearth and entertainment center all in one. They were the true center of the bungalow home.
Original bungalow kitchens were often basic and modest. Subsequent remodeling and renovation has created kitchens that accommodate today's lifestyles. Craftsman details, stained wood trim and cabinetry with the look and feel of furniture maintains the vintage quality of this home.
Bungalows are all about using space efficiently. So breakfast nooks are the norm.
Bungalows often have a richness of detail even though, for the most part, a bungalow began as a house for people of modest means. Art glass windows are a staple in many bungalows.
The typical one-bath bungalow was, like everything else in a bungalow, modest and consisted of tub, toilet and sink. Today these bathrooms, even when kept to their original footprint, can be made special with built-ins and elegant finishes.
The lower ceiling, canted walls and opportunity for built-ins makes the upstairs (attic) rooms in a bungalow quite appealing.
Do you live in a bungalow? Tell us about it below!
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Do you live in a bungalow? Tell us about it below!
More: Cape-Cod Style Across America
The Colonial: America's Home Style
Shingle-Style Homes from Seaside to Suburb
Getting it Wright: Today's Prairie Style
American Home Styles: The Queen Anne
Mountain Homes: Big Design for Majestic Places
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