Ranch-style homes dominated the suburban house marketplace in the 1950s.
Following World War II, U.S. citizens flocked en masse to the suburbs from the city to raise their families. Also, many soldiers from World War II were eligible for the G.I. Bill, which provided them with funds to build houses in suburban areas. Concurrently, the modernist art movement was in full force and had a major impact on the exterior and interior d cor of suburban homes in the 1950s. Does this Spark an idea?
Ranch-style House
Although the 1920s is when ranch-style houses were first built in California, it was the '40s and '50s when this architectural style boomed in suburbs throughout the United States. These houses are one-level homes with minimal d cor on its interior and exterior d cor. The shapes of these houses are U-shaped, L-shaped and rectangular. Exterior characteristics include a sliding glass door, low roofline with overhanging eaves and an attached garage. Some garages had doors, while others were open. In the backyard, most ranch-style houses had stone patio areas designed for barbecuing. The houses' exterior walls were composed of brick, wood or stucco. During the '50s, ranch-style houses made up nine out of every 10 houses developed in suburban areas.
Eichler Homes
Eichler homes were houses developed by real estate developer Joseph Eichler in the 1950s and 1960s. These houses featured elements of modernism in its d cor; modernism was the artistic movement of the early 20th century, with its architectural style most popular following World War II, from the late 1940s through the 1960s. The majority of Eichler homes were built in California regions, such as the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. Two neighborhoods in Palo Alto, California -- Greenmeadow and Green Gables -- are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Characteristics of Eichler homes include floor-to-ceiling windows, arched eaves over the front door, and in-floor radiant heating systems. Over 11,000 Eichler houses were sold from 1950 to 1974, according to Eichler Homes of San Francisco and Marin County.
Split-level
The development of split-level homes began in the 1950s and lasted until the 1980s. Split-levels were also called raised ranches. These homes were one level on one end of the house and two levels on the other. Although a variety of split-level homes were built, the majority of these homes featured the kitchen, dining room and living room on the main floor, while the bedrooms were in the two-level section of the house. The split-level's exterior characteristics were similar to ranch-style houses and included patio areas for barbecues, sliding glass doors, and flat roofs with extended eaves. The exteriors walls were composed of brick or wood. The split-level homes had enclosed garages on one end of the house.
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