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These classic
California
Craftsman bungalows are found in the Bungalow
Heaven Landmark District of Pasadena. |
Yes, there really is a neighborhood in
Pasadena called "Bungalow Heaven". Moreover, it has been
designated a Landmark District, deserving special
architectural preservation. (There is also an adjacent area, the Historic
Highlands Landmark District, that has many bungalows, too.)
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The Craftsman bungalows, as you can see, are
of average sizes on average city-size lots. While they take their
inspiration from the grand estate bungalows designed for American
tycoons by Greene & Greene,
these homes are significantly smaller, just the right size for a growing
family in the early 1900s.
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Some of these California Craftsman homes were "kit houses", manufactured by Sears Roebuck or Pacific
Ready-Cut Homes and shipped to the owners in thousands of
pieces. Accompanying the kits were instructions on how to build
the house. (Talk about "some assembly required"!)
Craftsman bungalows were an expression of the
Arts & Crafts Movement, which valued simplicity of design and
looked to nature for inspiration for architectural details.
While they may
not look truly simple to contemporary eyes, the Craftsman home was and
is a striking contrast to the highly ornate and decorated Victorian
architecture of the late 19th Century.
Some of the
common architectural features were:
- Low pitched roofline
- Front porch with substantial pillars
- Use of building materials that are "natural" - not
ornamented
- Interiors with extensive woodwork, often beautifully
handcrafted
built-in
cabinets, drawers and seating
- Handcrafted tiles on fireplaces, often from local potteries
- Hardwood floors
- Wood shingles on the exterior
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River rock stones used on
the front porch and pillars may look original, but they are
restorations. The home's color scheme is a contemporary
interpretation of Arts & Crafts aesthetics. |
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