Bungalow Craze The bungalow style was a major influence in the drastic change of American society and how people lived. It influenced a major shift in gender role of women in society, creating easier housekeeping techniques and greater employment and career opportunities for women by confronting economic and social issues in society using domestic architecture. The simpler home design expressed many tensions of Progressivism in attempting to solve social issues of the time. The transformation brought about new ideas as well as fears that had to be confronted.

The spread of factories from the industrial age left anxiety concerning the loss of independence and masculinity. The middle class population was becoming salaried workers, loosing economic and moral independence. The Progressive Era had created a deep desire to reshape institutions and values as well as faith to reform the people. At the same time, the Arts and Crafts Movement grew in response to the spread of factories. It drew inspiration from John Rustic, an Oxford artist, who believed that machines were robbing people of the creativity and pleasure of work situations.

The bungalow design was influenced by a variety of social and economic trends that expanded the middle class and became a powerful means of transformation in American society. Arts and Crafts promoters associated the bungalow design with creative manual work, independence, and a way to return to manhood of common work practices. The bungalow style promoted craftsmanship using hand tools instead of machines and was aimed at solving social problems of the middle class from the creation of a lack of domestic servants to reduction of divorce rates, crime, and civil disorder. Housing design was linked to social issues and was promoted as a way to bring society together for social change. Middle class magazines popularized the bungalow by focusing on the ease of cleaning...

Influential reformers took up the bungalow in promoting labor reform, new architecture, and naturalism.
The Progressive Era viewed the bungalow as an answer to women's problems by using domestic architecture to design homes that were easier to keep clean. Technological innovations were changing the way household chores were done. Discussions were about work, family, and the role of women in society. Promoters of women's rights saw greater opportunities for women in ease of household duties that gave more time for career and employment opportunities. Other groups campaigned for a progressive approach to house design and to keep up with social goals based on conflicting values.

As a result of greater opportunities, women were afforded jobs and careers, higher education opportunities, and greater independence. Women who did not hold jobs volunteered for charities and clubs and were often involved in promoting various reforms. The bungalow design, coupled with technological innovations, created smaller families and labor saving devices that gave women more time for activities outside the home.

Domestic architecture had a long history as being used to encourage family and home life values. The social goals were often based on conflicting values, but favored a standardized home style to promote those values (Wright, 1981). Where designers promoted rustic aesthetic arts and crafts enthusiasts promoted good taste concepts. Woodwork tables, positioned to cut down on unnecessary steps developed built in furniture. The home was viewed as an uplifting instrument that promoted values of family and home. Many Americans viewed mechanical devices for the home as progressive improvement toward a brighter future.

Inexpensive versions provided working families with homeownership and apprenticeship training provided jobs for young men. With more…