History of Ranch Modular Home
The formal definition of the ranch style modular home coul
dn’t get more basic. Wikipedia defines ranch style as “a common term used to describe a single story house often built with a very horizontal appearance. The entrance is often low to the surrounding grade of land, although some with basements have a more elevated entrance and are called ‘raised ranches.’ They are occasionally surrounded by large amounts of land, but in the second half of the 20th century it was commonly used as a style in tract developments.”
But how does a ranch style modular home came into reality? A glance at its history will make you understand the humble beginnings of ranch style.
The First Ranch Style Home
It was built in 1932 in San Diego, California, by building designer Cliff May, but the style wasn’t widely built until Abraham Levitt and Sons used it in their famous planned community called Levittown, in Pennsylvania, beginning in the late 1940s.
Start of Ranch Style Modular Home
The earth-hugging Prairie Style houses pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright and the informal Bungalow styles of the early 20th century paved the way for the popular ranch style. Architect Cliff May is credited with building the first Ranch Style house in San Diego, California in 1932.
After World War II, real estate developers turned to the simple, economical ranch style modular home to meet the housing needs of returning soldiers and their families. The briefly popular Lustron Homes were essentially Ranch houses made of metal. Real estate developers Abraham Levitt and Sons turned to the Ranch Style for their planned community, Levittown, Pennsylvania.
Because so many ranch modular home were built quickly, the Ranch Style later became known as ordinary. However, during the late 1950s and 1960s, a few real estate developers re-invented the style, giving the conventional one-story ranch house a modern flair. Sophisticated Eichler Homes by California developer Joseph Eichler were imitated across the United States. In Palm Springs, California, the Alexander Construction Company set a new standard for one-story suburban housing with stylish Alexander Homes.
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