What Is a Bungalow?
A bungalow is a one-story house, cottage, or cabin. Bungalows are generally small in terms of square footage, but it is not uncommon to see very large bungalows. Bungalows were originally designed to provide affordable, modern housing for the working class.
Key Takeaways
- A bungalow is a style of house or cottage that is typically either a single story or has a second, half, or partial story, that is built into a sloped roof.
- Bungalows are typically small in terms of size and square footage and often are distinguished by the presence of dormer windows and verandas.
- Bungalows are cost-efficient, easy to maintain, and due to increased square footage versus multi-story homes, relatively easy to modify.
- On the downside, Bungalows have smaller and fewer rooms than multi-story houses, and are more vulnerable to break-ins, due tohow low they sit on the ground.
Understanding Bungalows
Bungalowsare most often one-story houses, although they often also include an additionalhalf story, usually with a sloped roof. There are various types ofbungalows, including raisedbungalowsthat have basem*nts partially above ground to let in additional sunlight. There are alsosome bungalows that branch away from the original definition by adding additional levels such as lofts and half levels. Common features of thebungalowinclude a dormer window and a veranda.
Bungalow Characteristics
Bungalows are small and easy to maintain and are therefore great homes for aging adults or people with disabilities.Theyare also cost-efficient; heating and cooling costs tend to be lower, and the property value tends to remain relatively high. Because bungalowsoccupy more square footage than multi-story homes, they tend to allow more space for modifications and additions. They also afford more privacy than most traditional homes, as they're low to the ground and the windows can easily be blocked by trees, shrubs, and fences.
On the other hand,bungalowstend to occupy a larger area of land than their multi-story counterparts;since they don't extend upwards, they take up more square footage on the first floor. This means that the initial costs are higher sincethey cost more per square foot, and they also require more material for roofing.
Bungalowsalso tend to have smaller and fewer rooms extending off a larger living room, as opposed to large bedrooms or an open floor plan. Also, because they're low to the ground, they're more susceptible to break-ins; therefore, it's a good idea to invest in a home security system if you purchase abungalow.
Currently-popular Bungalow styles include California, Chicago, and the chalet.
History ofBungalows
Bungalowswere first built in the South Asian region of Bengal.Bungalows, which derive their name from Hindi, were first identified as such by British sailors of the East India Company in the 18thcentury. As time progressed, a bungalow came to refer to a large dwelling, often representing high social statusin both Britain and America.
The termbungalowas we now know it –a small dwelling, typically one story –developed in the20thcentury, although its definition varies in different areas of the world. For example, in India today, the term generally refers to any single-family dwelling, regardless of how many stories it has.
In Canada and the United Kingdom, abungalowalmost exclusively refers to one-story units. Australia tends toward the Californiabungalow, a type ofbungalowthat was popular in the United States from about 1908 to 1940 and expanded abroadas Hollywood became popular and increased the desirability of American-made products.
The Californiabungalowis one to one-and-a-half stories and features a large porch, sloping roof, and Spanish-inspired details. Other types of now-popular bungalow styles include the Chicago bungalow, which has Chicago roots circathe 1910s and is typically made of brick, and the chalet bungalow, which deviates from the one-story normby having a second-story loft.
