This house is a new take on an old Craftsman house.
At a time when America was still struggling to define its independence and identity, it wholly embraced the Arts and Crafts movement. Though the movement originated in England as a protest against the Industrial Revolution, it provided America with a hopeful outlook for the future. The American Craftsman home was born and helped reshape landscapes across the country. These houses threw off the heavy chains of Victorian décor and celebrated simplicity and individual skill. The iconic Craftsman style can be seen across the United States. Does this Spark an idea?
British Arts and Crafts
Machines brought about a new era in the early and mid-1800s. Production costs of goods were lowered and efficiency increased. Factories sprang up on every corner in the cities. In England, Augustus Pugin (1812-1852), a young architect, spoke out against this demoralizing system. John Ruskin (1819-1900), a professor at Oxford University, campaigned for England to look inward for design inspiration and return to the individual skills of the artisan. A student of Ruskin took up the philosophy and William Morris (1834-1896) became known as the founder of the British Arts and Crafts Movement.
United States
While England was trying to embrace its history, America was anxious to move forward. It was young and did not have such strong ties to the past. The first Arts and Crafts Exhibit in Boston appeared in 1897, while Arts and Crafts societies formed. In 1898, Gustav Stickley & Co. was founded. Stickley (1858-1942) designed houses as well as furniture. The Craftsman house was born and was typically a small, one-story home with deep porches, large eaves and built-in features with an emphasis on workmanship. In Stickley's philosophy, "(the bungalow) never fails to harmonize with its surroundings because its low broad proportions and absolute lack of ornamentation give it a character so natural and unaffected that it seems to blend with any landscape. It is beautiful because it is planned and built to meet simple needs in the simplest and most direct way."
Craftsmanship
Stickley's monthly publication, "Craftsman," started in 1901 and featured homes with well-planned interiors that were sparsely decorated and minimal furnishings. Everything that went into the house had a purpose and brought a touch of nature indoors. Wood was used in every space. Mass production allowed furnishings to be readily available and affordable.
Followers
Several architects followed the Arts and Crafts school of design. Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) is one of the most notable. His early designs dominated the Midwest. Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) founded an Arts and Crafts community in New York called Roycroft, which celebrated artists and craftsmen and had a strong influence on architecture and design. Several companies, including Sears and Roebuck Co., offered Craftsman house kits that could be purchased and built for as little as $900.
Decline
The Craftsman home was at its height from 1901 to 1916. Hubbard died in 1915 and the last issue of "Craftsman" was published in 1916. Wright's designs eventually evolved into the Prairie style.
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