TWO YEARS AGO, Tuscan- and Mediterranean-influenced villas were all the rage. Those styles are still going strong in the warm climates of California and Florida, but the rest of the nation is embracing an architectural renaissance of a different flavor. Craftsman style is back in full force, and all indications are it's going to be around for a while.
The reasons are many. First, the all-American aesthetic is the darling of any master planner focusing on neotraditional development. Second, as developers increasingly seek to fill land pockets with site-sensitive products that blend with the surrounding neighborhoods, they are bound to find bungalows next door.
“Craftsman-style homes were first introduced by Sears and Aladdin and Montgomery Ward at the same time the railroad system was being developed in this country,” notes Dale Peek, an architect in Smyrna, Ga.
“You could buy a kit and have it put on a train and shipped to your little town,” he continues. “As a result, there are hundreds of thousands of these houses all over the country. People love the nostalgic style. It reminds them of home.”
Yet another history fact that bodes well for a Craftsman comeback: the movement's eco-conscious roots. “The base of the Craftsman philosophy is that the house is a natural outgrowth of the land on which it rests,” Peek says. “The concept is predicated on being gentle to nature and not using up natural resources.” Long live deep eaves, square porch columns, and exposed rafter tails.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Los Angeles, CA.
