Kit homes and mail order architecture is a different sort of homogenization than what is happening in suburban America today. During the period of the early 1900s to the 1960s, America was a beautiful hodgepodge of architecture styles, from the midwest’s Prairie school to the beautiful American Craftsman homes of the west coast. The era was also influenced by a series of different mail order architecture from companies like Sears, Bilt-Well Homes, Bennett Better Built, Aladdin and a variety of others. While I am not an architectural expert, I am a known seeker of nostalgia and it is easy to appreciate the American residential landscape from a simpler time.
An interesting and informative reference of 20th century American residential architecture can be seen at Antique Home.
Below: A 1920s Bennett Kit Bungalow, The Lancaster Model near Buffalo, NY.
American Foursquare kit home from Sears.
Bungalow in Portland from Daily Bungalow on Flickr.
Photos from Daily Bungalow, Antique Home and Lifeisgrand.
i am personally obsessed w/ Craftsman style homes. i fell in love with one earlier this summer and was moments from putting in an offer on it but the thought of moving out of the city made me think twice.
some day I will get my Craftsman though.
http://newdandyism.com/
Great post. I am fascinated by kit homes – once you start to recognize some of the patterns, they start showing up everywhere. It’s ironic that as new housing continues it’s homogenizing march, older neighborhoods that embody ‘the beautiful hodgepodge’ become more and more desireable – you would think planners and builders would take note.
Architecture, design, fashion…the rise of the creative class or just the internet bringing like minds together?
Waw!! the beauty of these houses live a lifetime.. I personally fasinated with the work and detailed done on the houses.