Housing Styles

Folk Housing Buildings erected without architect or blueprint diffuses slowly through migration clustered distributions isolation/lack of interaction breeds uniqueness   According to Jean Brunhes, folk housing is based on the influence of one's environment.   Cultural landscape- a characteristic and tangible outcome of the complex interactions between a human group and the natural environment

Folk Housing Jean Brunhes (France) Fred Kniffen (USA) Fred Kniffen said that housing was a good reflection of cultural heritage, fashion, functions and the environment: used American Housing Housing is influenced by: 1. building materials available Ex) log cabins, sod homes, adobe homes versus popular housing which will move the material and architecture without emphasis on environment. 2. social /environmental customs of the people Ex) in South Central Java the front door faces south the direction of the South Sea Goddess who holds the key to the Earth, Houses on the Charleston Battery are slanted towards the breeze coming from the Atlantic Ocean. Florida homes have shutters on the Hurricane force side of the building.

Folk Housing in the U.S. Fred Kniffen identified three hearths (nodes or origins). They are New England, Middle Atlantic, Lower Chesapeake. These homes were created when people arrived in the U.S. to the 1800s. When they migrated they took the style with them (environment providing)

House Types Kniffen’s traditional American house types: New England Mid-Atlantic Southern Tidewater

The New England “Large” house is a modern adaptation of a Yankee folk house that added a wing as the style migrated westward. It is a 2 ½ story house built around a central chimney.

The Georgian Style (1700-1800) used Renaissance inspired classical symmetry. Typically it was 2 rooms deep and 2 rooms high with end chimneys and pilasters around the door.

The “Cape Cod” style dwelling from New England features a steep roof with side gables and a symmetrical layout with the door in the center.

The Victorian or Queen Anne style of architecture was dominant in the United States from 1880 to 1900.

The Tudor Revival (1910-1940) became popular in suburban areas in the 1920s. The style is loosely based on Medieval construction.

The “bungalow” (1900-1920) was supposedly a modified version of an Indian rural vernacular form. The bungalow typically has a low-pitched roof with wide overhang eaves.

This narrow home fits easily on small city lots This narrow home fits easily on small city lots. In the Midwest this version of the “bungalow” is known as the “Chicago bungalow” style.

This “California Ranch” with all rooms on one level takes up a larger lot and has encouraged urban sprawl.

Commonly built in the 1950s and 1960s, this style of home is an good example of maladaptive diffusion since it was intended for the year round living of southern California.

Source Areas and Diffusion Routes of Three House Types Copy the map from page 122 in your textbook on the map of North America. Use three different colors, one for each housing style Trace the source and movement of each style.

THE END