In the 1920s, as industry boomed and the economy thrived, there was a rise in the living standards of residential home buildings, as well the modern skyscraper.
The home of Americans in this period transitioned to resemble the type of houses we have today. The use of new materials and building methods, such as concrete panels, meant that houses were easier to heat and cool. New methods like this allowed houses to become more affordable, as they saved money previously wasted on inefficient uses, and made them more suitable for living.A style of housing that became popular over this period was the Bungalow, a one story house with a large front porch. This type of house embodied the lifestyle of the average American family. It was simple, small, and built to provide the maximum comfort and minimum need for expense.
In the cities, the icon of modern was the skyscaper. In the video we watched in class, we learned that the skyscraper represented the new modernity and ambitions Americans. With the development of steel, reinforced concrete, and water pumps, and the invention of the elevator, buildings could be built to heights never seen before. New York City became the icon of the modern city, as skyscrapers lined the streets. The famous Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building were built, and each took the title of "the world's tallest building".From the architecture in the 1920s, we can see the ambition of Americans and the desire for going "higher", represented by the skyscraper, as well as the desire for efficiency and comfort, represented by the houses.
Sources:
http://www.1920-30.com/architecture/
http://americainclass.org/sources/becomingmodern/modernity/text5/colcommentarysky.pdf
Really interesting to analyze a booming industry (real estate and construction) on the eve of the Great Depression. Equally interesting to note how the styles of homes and workplaces (skyscrapers) of the 1920s seem to have persisted through this day and age. Architecture seemed to make greater leaps during this decade than in had previously. Do you think this had something to do with the great utility of building up instead of just spreading out?
ReplyDeleteInteresting article about architecture in the 1920s. In buildings of this time, we can see the ideas and concepts of the time: the new, cheaper homes reflect the materialistic nature of the new method of paying with credit, and the skyscrapers reflect the new innovative thinking of the time with all its new inventions and ability to create such large, magnificent structures. It's quite interesting to see how, even in architecture, the new movements of the 1920s are portrayed. One aspect of skyscrapers that would be interesting to look at is how it affected the morale of people. Because of its greatness, it would be interesting to see how people saw it and what it meant to them. For more information on this, go to: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/roaring-twenties/resources/symbols-1920s-new-york-city-skyscrapers-photographs-and-pa
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