The bungalow is a classic example of early modern style.
Early modern architecture and design styles began to emerge from the American Arts and Crafts movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Modernism arose in America alongside the Victorian and other period styles prominent through the end of the 19th century. After the Great Depression -- which stalled most new construction from 1929 to 1945 -- early modern styles caught on and began to define and dominate America's architectural and design landscape until the emergence of post-modernism in the 1970s. Early modern styles are characterized by simplicity and functionality prioritized over form.
Prairie
Prairie homes represent a microcosm of the Midwestern prairie landscape.
Prairie style architecture, sometimes referred to as American Foursquare, is one of the earliest examples of modern style. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright is considered the master and father of Prairie-styled building and home design. Wright and Louis Sullivan created the Prairie style to work in aesthetic symbiosis with the Midwestern prairie landscape with open floor plans, horizontal lines, natural materials and basic, subdued color selections. Prairie homes feature broad eaves, long horizontal bands of windows and deeply recessed full-length front porches. Prairie-style homes emerged on the American landscape in the 1890s and remained favorites through 1920.
Craftsman/Bungalow
The word bungalow comes from the Bengali word "bangla," which means a low house surrounded by porches. The use of the term Craftsman comes from the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 1800s. The first bungalow homes, inspired by Japanese design principles infused with functionalism, were built throughout the late 1870s as American architecture moved away from the Victorian-era and Industrial Revolution-inspired design styles. From 1890 through 1930, the bungalow style spread across the country and witnessed an explosion of popularity in California. Bungalows were mostly constructed out of wood and other natural materials.
Art Deco/Moderne
Art Deco styles are easy to spot in most American cities.
Art Deco or Moderne are the latest of the early modern styles to emerge in America. The styles were most common in and around Los Angeles from about 1925 through 1940. The term Art Deco comes from an industrial and design exposition in Paris in 1925. The style was mainly used for skyscrapers and commercial and institutional buildings. Pioneers of the Art Deco style intended to infuse the predominant industrial style with creative expression and decoration. The Art Deco style can still be seen in many older skyscrapers in New York and L.A. as well as long, horizontal buildings with repetitive linear patterns across the country.
