At the turn of the century bungalows took America by storm. These small houses, some costing as little as $900, helped fulfill many Americans’ wishes for their own home, equipped with all the latest conveniences. Central to the bungalow’s popularity was the idea that simplicity and artistry could harmonize in one affordable house. The mania for bungalows marked a rare occasion in which serious architecture was found outside the realm of the rich. Bungalows allowed people of modest means to achieve something they had long sought: respectability. With its special features – style, convenience, simplicity, sound construction, and excellent plumbing – the bungalow filled more than the need for shelter. It provided fulfillment of the American dream.
The bungalow was practical, and it symbolized for many the best of the good life. On its own plot of land, with a garden, however small, and a car parked out front, a bungalow provided privacy and independence. To their builders and owners, bungalows meant living close to nature, but also with true style.
Sounds like an idea, a sense of place, a historic mark we should protect.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
At the turn of the century bungalows took America by storm!
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1 comments:
Nice post and my feelings exactly. This is a stark contrast to the article in the August leaflet. After reading that article you would have thought that so many people are wasting their time and money publishing and reading publications like American Bungalow and Old House Journal, meticulously renovating and restoring their bungalows, paying +-$350,000 for a 3 bed room and 2 bath, 1600 square foot bungalow. I thought did I waste my time and money? There is more to history than war, conflict, and the rich and famous.
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