Craftsman House Definition

Craftsman houses were first seen in America in the late 19th century.

Craftsman houses first appeared in the late 19th century. They took their architectural and styling cues from the American Arts and Crafts Movement, which in turn owed its existence to the British Arts and Crafts Movement of the era. Craftsman houses, in fact, were a response from architects to older Victorian Era designs. They're characterized by the use of local natural materials, sturdy construction and clean lines.

Types

American Craftsman homes from the late 19th century up to about 1930 (when Craftsman houses fell out of favor) typically came in bungalow and cottage types. They feature simple and sturdy craftsmanship and are well known for durability. This is because the builders of that era were instructed to use extremely well-made, yet simple, components. These included windows, interior woodwork and doors.

Exteriors

Many American Craftsman houses have overhanging porch roofs with three or more windows under them.

The bungalow is the most common Craftsman house seen in the United States. Their exteriors are characterized by overhanging roofs that feature exposed, but finished, eaves. They also feature low-pitched rooflines that lead down to extended types of gables which sit just before and over covered porches. Under the porch overhangs may be three or more windows at the front. Simple and elegant window placements are a common touch of most any Craftsman house.

Interiors

Builders of the era, in obeying the architects specializing in Craftsman design, used as much local product as they could. Craftsmen could often produce sturdy, high quality interior woodwork at a lower prices, as well. Craftsman house interior layouts also tended to be open and flowing from one room to another. Typically, they comprise one-and-a-half-stories, with a large master bedroom in the upper half. Most bungalow types also come with open basements.

Considerations

The vast majority of Craftsman houses are found in California. They range from about 800 square feet up to 2,500 square feet. Because they were solidly built, many fine examples have survived well into the 21st century. Also, many Craftsman house designs are available for those wanting to build new ones.

References

• CraftsmanStyle.info; Craftsman Style
• CraftsmanPerspective.com; Arts and Crafts Architecture in America
• City of Glendale, CA; Craftsman Style Guide

Resources

• Ragtime.org; Gustav Stickley and the Craftsman Home; Ray Stubblebine