The Lasting Appeal of a Bungalow

Bungalow-style homes are popular around the worldappearance loosely resembling French Creole
because they're so adaptable - they work just asarchitecture - this similarity makes sense, as both
well in luxury planned communities as in affordablestyles originated in warm, humid climates with high
urban areas, often with little or no change to theseasonal rainfall and occasional flooding. With their
floor plan. With so many possible uses, Bungalows willlarge roofs and porches, bungalows (like French
likely be one of the 21st century's enduring homeCreole homes) tend to have a larger footprint than
styles, just as they were throughout the 20thmost two story buildings, and cost more per square
century.foot to build.
Unlike other building styles that can be seen inIn America, several distinct styles of bungalows,
commercial and industrial settings, Bungalowusually tied to a particular region or city, have
architecture was developed solely for homes. Thedeveloped over the past 100 years. Chicago, for
style originated in India, where homes built with aexample, saw a boom in bungalow construction
wide veranda were referred to as Bengali, an ellipticalbetween 1910 and 1940, quickly giving rise to a
phrase for a "house in the Bengal style."Chicago style featuring brick construction (sometimes
Traditionally, these homes were built with thatchedin decorative patterns), a hipped roof, and a long,
roofs and bamboo framing, and were often occupiednarrow floor plan. California bungalows, by contrast,
by large families. Indian Bungalows usually occupy oneusually had a wider floor plan fronted by a large
or one and a half stories, and are often seen as apillared porch, and a standard roof. Both styles
status symbol. The simple, elegant design of thesetypically included a small second floor with a dormer
homes makes them a pleasure to live in as well.window.
British colonialists also popularized Bungalows inBungalow construction slowed in favor of ranch
Singapore and Malaysia during the early 20th century.homes during the mid-20th century, but the style has
Modern bungalows can look quite different thanresurfaced in recent years, particularly in golf and
traditional ones, although the basic idea is the same.man-made lake communities. Golf course bungalows
These homes accommodate their owners with ausually occupy just one story, and afford more
minimum of excess, affording well-planned livingprivacy than larger, more open home styles.
spaces and ease-of-movement between rooms.Learn more about property in the Chandler AZ real
Bungalows typically face the street with a largeestate area on Anne Eliason's website. There you'll
elevated porch and overhanging roof extendingfind the latest information on homes for sale, detailed
several meters beyond the main house. Otherarea pages, and a guide to Anne's Phoenix Valley real
sections of bungalows are also often shaded by anestate agent services for buyers and sellers.
overhang, giving these homes a cozy, sheltered