Evening star., 1914-04-11
CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW
IS DECLARED A MODEL
Design Said to Have Reached High.
est Development on Pa
cific Slope.
Type Originated in India. But Has
Undergone Many
Changes.

In no other locality in this country has
the design of small dwelling houses at
tanned tthe notable development, from
both the practical and artistic considera-
tons, that it has in southern California.
says William Schultz in the New Orleans
Times Democrat. So far-reaching, in
fact. has been the fame Of the California
bungalow that now in all parts of the
nited States. and in Canada. TOO. de-
signers are striving. in their endeavors to
produce livable and charming houses, to
rival the California model. These at
tempts have been attended with varying
degrees of success. In some cases the re-
suit has been worthy of being classed
with its original. but in very many in
stances the adaptation may be truly said
to have travelled devious paths. and the
average bungalow entirely lacks the spirit
Of its prototype
1t will be found from the various exotic
which have come out under
the successful classification that the sue
ceSSful designer has had the opportunity
of spending some time in southern Cali
fornia and has studied the bungalow from
mate knowledge of the methods of con-
and the architectural principles
that underlie its picturesque exterior and
the economy of it's plan, it is futile to
attempt the style: as much so as it would
be for an architect to undertake the de-
sign of a Gothic cathedral without a
knowledge of the buttressing or vaulting
that is the key to medieval construction.
Originated in India.
Bungalows had their origin in India
among the Bengalese. hence the deriva
ton of the present word bungalow"
They are inns built by the English along
main roads of travel and consist Of de-
tached buildings connected by covered
and containing a central
hall or corridor. with bedrooms on each
side and kitchen in a separate build
ing. reached through a covered passage
way.
The bungalow houses of Englands nu-
merous civilian government employees, of
light and rambling construction, have
been made familiar by Kipling in his
Indian stories. From the oriental pro-
totype with its low roofs and wide
spreading caves for protection from the
torrid heat. was derived the first in
spiraton for the American bungalow and
brought to its highest development on
the Pacific coast.
However, other influences have been
brought to bear. In the bungalows de-
velopment the Japanese pagoda and the
Swiss chalet have played an important
part, the latter being suggested prin-
cipally in dwellings of several stories.
Then. too. the twenty-one native Span
lsh missions. whose romance envelops
California from end to end. Aave boldly
indicated their right to recognition as
al Indigenous product harmoniously in
lines. SO that the California bungalow of
today bears but mere semblance of its
East Indian ancestor.
Distinguished by Roof.
The distinguishing mark of the bunga-
low is the low-pitched roof which must
have wide, shadowy caves. Any OF me
,arious patent composition roof coverings
surfaced with crushed mineral products
and laid in sheets directly from a. roll
may be employed.
In the earlier work on the Pacific coast
The bungalow roofs were higher pitched,
and wooden shingles were used. but later
developments have proven concluSively
hat the wooden shingie lacks some of the
Advantages afforded by the composition
roofing. which is non-inflar1mable, Is dis
.inctly a fire-retardent and, moreover.
-ypifies the more recent successful bunga-
oW developments.
The roll material is turned over a round
ed edge at the caves in a way that gives
The appearance of great solidity and re-
pose. The architects east of the Rockies
lave shown marked aversion to compo-
sition roofing for permanent dwellings,
and it is confessedly due to this that their
advance in bungalow planning has been
retarded, for without the low
pitched roof most of the bungalows true
charm and spirit is unattainable. and the
effect is more often a failure.
Simplicity Feature.
The next distinctly individuaIzing
mark of a bungalow is the artless sim
'licity of architectural detail. All influ-
,nces of traditional follies and absurd-
les have been allowed to sink into dis
'epute, if not oblivion. In the place of
round. slender columns bearing orna-
nents that fall short of their purpose,
md supporting elaborate SuperstructureS,
he bungalow scheme is developed with
leavy, rough beams and posts, and eX-
posed rafter ends, all the natural rough
lumber, simple, constructive, but highly
decorative, if decoration it can be called
primitive, it is true, but done with
'rankness and sincerity that are unknown
,ther styles of houses, and in this the
rue bungalow Is wholly American, and
nothing if not dignfied and repoSeful in
Effect.
The outside of bungalow is as usual
hing entirely rough this is so gener
lily true as to make houses with dressed
,xteriors the exceptions that prove the
ule. These rough eXteriors are appro-
,riately stained in rich, soft tones, pre-
erably in cedars, browns or greens. The |
'ding, or outside covering, is of va
ious kinds; shingles. weatherboards and
hakes are the commoner types. |
The latter is a shingle of abnormal d. |
nensionS, and is used with informal but |
striking effects.
Stucco is used only on houses of strict |
character, and usually repre- |
sents masonry construction.
Flanked by Buttresses.
The bungalow porch is fianked with |
heavy piers or buttrcsses that impress |
,ne with the dignity that accompanies |
nassiveness; these are worked up i'll a |
great variety of materials-among which |
,obbIe stones, common rough brick with |
-aked-out joints. and clinker brick-but |
press brick are never used. Their adap- |
ation in this connection is to be discour- |
heir having been successfully employed |
n bungalow architecture.
The bungalow interior is an intelligent |
1iSest of utilitarianism and artistic de- |
sign. Its plan Is laid out compactly and |
There is a minimum of
hall space. which always is commend |
able in low-priced houses. The rooms
luately serve their purpose and yet de-
signed to give a maximum of comfort.