Minimal Traditional is a style of architecture that emerged in mid 20th century America as a vernacular form that incorporates influences from earlier styles such as American Colonial, Colonial Revival, Spanish Revival, Tudor Revival, and American Craftsman while adhering to modern architecture's avoidance of ornament.[1][2]

The Minimal Traditional style evolved during the 1930s and was a dominant style in domestic architecture until the Ranch-style house emerged in the early 1950s.[1][2] Descending in part from the bungalows, cottages, and foursquare houses of the early 20th century, Minimal Traditional houses represent a "stripped-down version of the historic-eclectic styles popular in the 1920s".[3] They are usually detached single-family houses that are on the smaller side and retain simplified versions of the built-in cabinets that were popular features of the Craftsman era.[1][4] Typical features include hipped or gabled roofs without much in the way of eaves; cladding in locally popular materials such as wood, brick or stone; small porches; and an asymmetrical design with the front door set off center.[1]

The Minimal Traditional house "fulfilled aesthetic and social needs for affordable single-family housing" and was used by the Federal Housing Administration as a prototype for a "minimum house that the majority of American wage earners could afford".[3]

Minimal Traditional houses have been tagged with some other names: FHA house, Depression-era cottage, Victory cottage, and American small house.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Minimal Traditional Architecture". Antique Home website.
  2. ^ a b Baker, John Milnes. American House Styles: A Concise Guide.
  3. ^ a b Gibbs, Jocelyn, et al., eds. Outside In: The Architecture of Smith and Williams. p. 174.
  4. ^ a b "American Small House"[usurped]. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division. (Slideshow/PDF.)
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