Beautiful Bungalows

"The word “bungalow” originated in India after the Hindustani word “bangala” meaning “belonging to Bengal” and was used as a reference by the British to one-story 19th Century houses with large porches. Rudyard Kipling wrote of his time in India and helped romanticize the Bungalow for millions of Americans. Once arriving in the United States as an architectural idea, the original California bungalows were influenced by Queen Anne Style, though still one-story cottages. The classic American Bungalow became a blend of the original form and Craftsman, Swiss, English and even Japanese, details.

In 1909 in his “Craftsman Homes” Gustav Stickley declared that a bungalow was “a house reduced to its simplest form.” This description is accurate as the materials used were ideally local and left in as close to their natural states as possible. They feature exposed structural elements and are constructed using weather resistant materials. Characterized by wooden, natural beams, stone chimneys, built-in cabinets and exposed rafters, the bungalow also encouraged outdoor living with the typically generous front porch. Both Craftsman Style and Bungalow houses were designed with a utilitarian purpose for a long life of hard use in mind.

Between 1910 and 1930, the bungalow overtook the Denver Square in popularity, and was promoted as the most efficient living space for the cost. Modern elements like built-in electric wiring, concrete floor basements and detached garages emerged through the Bungalow. The basements were developed as additional living space, appropriate to the climate by providing insulated areas that stay warmer in the winter while being cooler in the summer months."

Source: Denver the City Beautiful by Thomas J Noel & Barbara Norgren