This blog is dedicated to bungalows…specifically Chicago bungalows. But what’s the difference?

Let’s start at the beginning

The term bungalow originated in India, specifically Bengal, and while there are a lot of different variations on the root of the westernized version of the word, the most commonly referenced root is the Hindi word ‘bangla’ (which translates to a “low, thatched house”). Around 1870, British colonizers in India supplanted ‘bangla’ with ‘bungalow’ and this new architectural term became a popularized way to describe any small house or dwelling in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Structurally, a bungalow is defined as a one-storey dwelling that features a low roof line, wide eaves, and natural materials.

Defining a Chicago-style bungalow

There are a few different styles of bungalows throughout the City of Chicago: Wood frame, stucco, and brick. And while the first two can be found across the United States (and the world) the quintessential Chicago-style bungalow is defined as a one-and-a-half-storey brick structure with an offset entrance, large bay of front windows, decorative face brick with horizontal limestone accents, a front stoop with stairs leading down to street level, wide eaves, and a low-pitched roof with a dormer in the front and back of the house. They are typically rectangular structures and feature a full basement and attic. Chicago bungalows were built to maximize the size of a city lot, which is typically 25 feet wide by 125 feet deep, as well as interior living space; the unfinished basement and attic spaces could be finished out as a family expanded.

Other brick bungalow styles exist in the city alongside the Chicago-style bungalow, namely the Detroit-style bungalow. While they share similarities in construction and materials, there are some noticeable architectural differences. Roof lines are different: Detroit-style bungalows have side gabled roof lines as opposed to a hipped roof. Front stoops and door access are different: Detroit-style bungalows often omit the front stoop in favor of a side entrance or a large front porch that extends across the entire front of the house.

Vernacular architecture across the city

Of course, there are endless variations on each style as it was typically up to the builders and developers, racing to get these homes built, who no doubt mixed and matched (and took liberties) just to get them finished and sold. But once you know what to look for, it’s pretty easy to see the differences and begin identifying bungalow styles within the city. That’s the great thing about vernacular architecture…once you know the rules you can find the exceptions.

Whether it’s location, materials, or variations on a style, knowing the basic design principles of the Chicago bungalow ultimately gives you a starting point to identifying architecture across the city and, I would argue, helps build a stronger appreciation for an architectural style that makes up one-third of Chicago’s affordable single-family housing.

Sources

Bungalow (n). https://www.etymonline.com/word/bungalow

The Bungalow: A Short History. https://artsandcraftshomes.com/house-styles/the-bungalow-a-short-history

The Chicago Bungalow. https://www.chicagobungalow.org/chicago-bungalow