The History of Ranch Style Homes

Long considered the butt of trendy design jokes, ranch style homes are coming back into their own. The fact is, the origins of ranch style homes differ from what the style became known for. There is a fascinating history and evolution of ranch style homes as well as a philosophy underlying their seemingly basic architectural elements.

History

The first houses to be called ranch style were created in the 1920s. American architects looked to Mexican hacienda floor plans as well as Spanish colonial ranch style homes, simplified some of the design elements and created a new modern architectural style. Among the early architects notable for designing ranch style homes are Cliff May and William Wurster. The style was particularly popular in the western United States, and was often seen in tract housing developments.

Features

The classic features of ranch style homes include being one level, featuring a low roof and having an open, rectangular floor plan that allows living areas to be flexible and to overlap. The exterior and interior are simple, with little decorative elements other than a rustic trim, creating an informal, breezy feeling. Integrating the outdoors with the indoors was important, so big windows and gardens were common. This was the style that saw the proliferation of sliding glass doors, patios, attached garages and long, rambling construction. Think of the home from "The Brady Bunch" series, albeit on one floor, and you have classic ranch style.

Types

Ranch style homes go by different monikers depending on region and style. The western American version, known as American Ranch, California Ranch, Rancher or Rambler, was most influenced by Spanish Colonial style. In the Midwest and on the East coast, the Colonial Ranch style added a colonial faade to an otherwise simple modernist structure. As the ranch style grew in popularity, it evolved to include more ornamental features such as architectural flourishes, fancier trims and western elements. The Canadian version, seen in the 1970s and onward, included a basement for multipurpose uses.

Time Frame

The classic California ranch style home saw its heyday in the 1950s as suburban areas were growing. By this time, about 90 percent of new homes were being built it the ranch style. In the decades to come, the fashion changed as people began to incorporate more traditional, historical architectural styles into their homes.

Expert Insight

One of the most fascinating aspects about ranch houses is the ethos underscoring their design elements. Architect Cliff May discusses the philosophy of ranch style homes at length in his book "Western Ranch Houses." In essence, ranch living was about livability, flexibility and an unpretentious character. The simplicity, modernism and open spaces of ranch style homes addressed these three core values.