All created equal? Nope
You might have a bungalow, but it might not be historic, so check first
Q: What is a bungalow?
A: It’s a comfortable and practical classic American house found all over the United States, parts of Canada and even Australia.
Bungalows are indebted to the English Arts and Crafts movement for inspiration, and were a radical break from fussy Victorians.
They were built low to the ground and emphasized horizontal lines, and their scaled-down layout makes good use of space with built-in cabinetry.
A testament to excellent craftsmanship and a connection with nature, bungalows emphasized the generous use of oak, fir and maple, stone, clay tiles and bricks. Bay windows accented with leaded or stained glass are a delight from inside or out.
Q: What is a Historic Chicago Bungalow?
A: Between 80,000 to 100,000 Chicago bungalows — no one knows exactly how many — were built here between 1910 and 1940. No wonder it is a common site in local neighborhoods. While there are many kinds of bungalows, the historic Chicago bungalow is a single-family home that is rectangular and one-and one-half stories tall, built of brick with stone trim, and topped with a low-pitched roof with wide overhangs. It has a full basement, generous windows, and the predominant roofline is perpendicular to the street.
Q: Can you tell which house is NOT a historic Chicago bungalow?
A: Number 5 is NOT a Historic Chicago bungalow because its flat roofline with no eaves does not comply with Chicago Historic Bungalow Association guidelines, says Annette Conti, executive director.