California Ranch - an American Gem

What is America's most important contribution to residential architecture? The correct answer is the ranch house. Ever since the post World War II period this type of home became a fixture on the suburban landscape. During the 1920s and 1930s California and Southwest architects first designed these houses. At first they were for the wealthy and were sprawling imitations of the ranch houses of the Old West. In the mid 1940s, builders looking for a way to meet the huge demand for housing that followed World War II, found this simple style perfectly suited for mass construction.The defining characteristics of the ranch house are the single story and the living area in the rear of the house opening with lots of glass to the outside. Bedrooms were typically located in the front part of the house. In the living area, few walls divided the space. There would be an eat-in kitchen/family room and a combination living/dining area. Most of the living areas opened to covered patios or veranda areas.Originally these ranch houses were designed by architects for wealthy owners, but in the 1940s, builders hired the architects and determined specifications and construction details. From the late 1930s until the end of the 1970s, the ranch was the predominant house form in the United States.The light filled spaces and the open style floor plans were influential in the development of the informal lifestyle that defines Californians.
Original post date February 14, 2007