The Lasting Appeal of a Bungalow

Bungalow-style homes are popular around the worldseveral meters beyond the main house. Other
because they're so adaptable - they work just assections of bungalows are also often shaded by an
well in luxury planned communities as in affordableoverhang, giving these homes a cozy, sheltered
urban areas, often with little or no change to theappearance loosely resembling French Creole
floor plan. With so many possible uses, Bungalows willarchitecture - this similarity makes sense, as both
likely be one of the 21st century's enduring homestyles originated in warm, humid climates with high
styles, just as they were throughout the 20thseasonal rainfall and occasional flooding. With their
century.large roofs and porches, bungalows (like French
Unlike other building styles that can be seen inCreole homes) tend to have a larger footprint than
commercial and industrial settings, Bungalowmost two story buildings, and cost more per square
architecture was developed solely for homes. Thefoot to build.
style originated in India, where homes built with aIn America, several distinct styles of bungalows,
wide veranda were referred to as Bengali, an ellipticalusually tied to a particular region or city, have
phrase for a "house in the Bengal style." Traditionally,developed over the past 100 years. Chicago, for
these homes were built with thatched roofs andexample, saw a boom in bungalow construction
bamboo framing, and were often occupied by largebetween 1910 and 1940, quickly giving rise to a
families. Indian Bungalows usually occupy one or oneChicago style featuring brick construction (sometimes
and a half stories, and are often seen as a statusin decorative patterns), a hipped roof, and a long,
symbol. The simple, elegant design of these homesnarrow floor plan. California bungalows, by contrast,
makes them a pleasure to live in as well. Britishusually had a wider floor plan fronted by a large
colonialists also popularized Bungalows in Singaporepillared porch, and a standard roof. Both styles
and Malaysia during the early 20th century.typically included a small second floor with a dormer
Modern bungalows can look quite different thanwindow.
traditional ones, although the basic idea is the same.Bungalow construction slowed in favor of ranch
These homes accommodate their owners with ahomes during the mid-20th century, but the style has
minimum of excess, affording well-planned livingresurfaced in recent years, particularly in golf and
spaces and ease-of-movement between rooms.man-made lake communities. Golf course bungalows
Bungalows typically face the street with a largeusually occupy just one story, and afford more
elevated porch and overhanging roof extendingprivacy than larger, more open home styles.