Types of Houses: Bungalow

Origins

• According to the Ask the Architect website, the American bungalow originated in British colonial India during the mid-19th century. These "bangalas," or bungalows, were named for the province of Bengal, the area that spawned the first of these retreats for weary travelers and colonial officials and dignitaries.

History in America

• The American bungalow made its debut in Southern California at the beginning of the 20th century. The bungalow reached the height of its nationwide popularity between 1905 and 1930. Simple design contributed greatly to the reputation of this house style. Consumers, tired of the architectural excesses and mass production of the Victorian era, gravitated toward the unpretentious nature and craftsmanship of the bungalow. The bungalow offered the working class and burgeoning middle class an opportunity to own affordable, quality homes.

Features

• Traditional bungalows typically consisted of a single story. Some included an additional half story with dormer windows. A low-pitched, gabled roof tops the diminutive structure. For ease of access, most of the living spaces tend to be concentrated on the main level. Bungalow-style homes of all pedigrees feature simple floor plans. The kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms lie just beyond the central living area. Modest yards and ample front porches or verandas provide an extension of indoor living spaces.

Exterior Materials

• Understated construction materials give American bungalows an ordinary appearance rooted in practicality. Geography, climate and availability of supplies frequently influenced the choice of exterior materials. Bungalows utilized common siding materials such as clapboard, cedar shingles, brick, stucco and decorative stone. Appropriate roofing materials included composition or wood shingles, clay tiles and even metal.

Styles

• American bungalow styles encompassed many of the popular residential architectural trends of the times. Modest versions of Queen Anne, English Colonial Revival and Tudor homes could be seen alongside organic styles, such as Prairie, Arts and Crafts, Spanish Colonial and Pueblo. These diverse bungalow styles did share one common denominator. Bungalows reflected a desire to return to simplicity --- of life, design and construction.