BUNGALOW STYLE MOULDING PROFILES & GALLERY
ABOUT BUNGALOW ARCHITECTURE
The Craftsman Bungalow is often linked with Gustav Stickley and his Craftsman magazine (1910 -1916). However, its roots are in the 19th century English Arts and Crafts movement, a reaction to the Industrial Revolution and the major changes it had caused in western society. Focusing on reform, it called for the return to a simpler and healthier lifestyle and the importance of the worker’s participation in manufacturing.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BUNGALOW STYLE
Emphasizing the use of naturally-finished exterior wood siding or shingles, stucco or stone, Craftsman bungalows most often had a gently sloping gable roof with a dormer, wide eaves and exposed rafter “tails.” Wide open front porches were integral to its generally simple, compact, 1 to 1 ½ story design. Window arrangements included groupings of double-hung or casement types with multiple lights, often of leaded glass.
Other defining characteristics of bungalows include:
- Open concept floor plan with minimal hallway space
- Large fireplace
- Entryway that opens to the living room
- Decorative knee braces
BUNGALOW MOULDINGS
Since this style emphasizes simplicity, Bungalow mouldings are less ornate and more functional. Craftsman Bungalow style door, window and ceiling moldings were simple and rectilinear with flat profiles. Other wood features included ceiling box beams, ¾ height wall paneling, colonnades, built-in storage such as buffets and china cabinets, and flooring. All wood was typically stained and finished with varnish.
HISTORY OF BUNGALOW STYLE
Few architectural styles have traveled a more remarkable journey than the bungalow. Born in the Bengal region of India, this humble dwelling crossed continents before becoming one of America's most beloved residential forms. The term bungalow derives from the Hindi word bangla, meaning "of Bengal," where modest one story dwellings with low, thatched roofs, open floor plans, and expansive porches were well suited to the region's warm climate. During the nineteenth century, while India remained under British rule, English officials embraced these practical residences and introduced the concept to Great Britain. From there, the bungalow evolved into an architectural form that would ultimately captivate homeowners throughout England before making its way to the United States in the early twentieth century.
As America entered the twentieth century, the dream of homeownership became attainable for millions of families, and no architectural style embodied that aspiration more completely than the bungalow. As cities flourished, transportation networks expanded, and new suburban communities rapidly developed, the bungalow offered an appealing solution for families seeking comfortable, thoughtfully designed residences. Its rise also coincided with the ideals of the City Beautiful movement, which promoted attractive, well planned neighborhoods featuring tree lined streets and public parks. The style's popularity was further accelerated by innovative mail order house kits offered by companies such as Sears, Roebuck and Company and Aladdin, making homeownership more attainable by shipping complete houses by rail for assembly throughout the nation. Reaching its peak between approximately 1905 and 1930, the bungalow became one of America's most influential residential forms, shaping neighborhoods from California to the Midwest and beyond. Demand for modest, well crafted homes grew even stronger following the First World War, as returning veterans and young families sought affordable opportunities for homeownership.
TYPES OF BUNGALOWS
Although Bungalow is itself a style, there are also many subtypes of Bungalows, including:
- Craftsman Bungalow
- Arts & Crafts Bungalow
- California Bungalow
- Tudor Bungalow
- Prairie Bungalow
- Swiss Chalet Bungalow
- Airplane Bungalow
- Modern Bungalow
Bungalows can be found all across the United States, especially in western states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California; and midwestern states like Illinois, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. This remains a nostalgic and popular style. Many homeowners seek out older houses built in the original Bungalow style today.
