The Bungalow Style

The term "bungalow" comes from India, specifically the province of Bengal, where it denoted a low house with a central living space sur- rounded by verandas and sleeping porches. The American Bungalow style translated this idea into a house with a low sloped, sweeping roof with one or more deep, shady verandas. The signature of the bungalow style is the long porch at the front of the house, whose roof is a broad extension of the gabled roof covering the main part of the house.

This above is the Frank Book house on Warren Street from 1914. The roof is often pierced by a central dormer which may be either shed (flat) or gabled. The construction of many bungalows was heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts tastes of the early 1900's. As a result, building materials are of a "natural" type including fieldstone, flagstone, brick, tile, stucco and wood trim painted in earth tones. The deep eaves often have exposed rafters and feature prominent carpenter-made brackets called "knee braces". Large exterior chimney masses are also common.

This above is the Carl Endicott house built around 1920. Here is a bungalow in brick. Rather unusual, the broad front veranda has a separate roof. The main roof features a centered shed dormer. The veranda roof is supported by clusters of simple square painted wood columns upon a "battered" brick base. Note the use of stucco in the gable of the porch. Note too the prominent "knee brace" brackets.

SUMMARY

The Bungalow, with its dramatic low sloping roof, deep eaves and verandas, together with its use of natural building materials, is one of the most readily recognized styles of the early 20th century.

Proceed to the Arts & Crafts/ Prairie Exhibit.