housing + communities: module 1
SYNTHESIS PAPER
housing in america + influences of housing choice and behaviors
Houses play a huge role in the
way we live and interact with
the world around us. Over
the past few centuries, North
American homes have evolved
to fit the lifestyles, trends, and
values of their diverse residents.
While there are many different
styles of homes, they can
generally be categorized into
either traditional or modern.
Traditional houses are “based
on a local model and [use] local
materials and construction
techniques,”
while
modern
houses “[use] readily available
materials, not necessarily of
local origins, and traditional
construction
techniques”
(Merrill, 2018).
and Parlor Cottage, is a popular
style which has seen revivals in
the 18 th and mid 20 th centuries.
This house is typically a story
and a half and has a side gable
roof. In revivals of the style,
houses are symmetrical and
often feature dormers.
Georgian
Style
Homes.
The
design of Georgian style homes
was heavily influenced by
classical Greek and Roman
design.
This
style
also
establishes a turning point in
design where homeowners could
afford to hire builders, and had
more say in the appearance of
the house and the division of
useful spaces. These homes are
HOME STYLES
Hall and Parlor Cottages. Hall
and parlor cottages were one of
the first styles of North American
housing, dating back to the 17 th
century. Originally, the houses
had no chimneys and the upper
attic was left open to allow for
the release of smoke. Eventually,
chimneys
were
introduced
and placed in the center of the
house to allow for the most
efficient heating. In Southern
colonies, heat conservation was
less important and chimneys
could be placed on the ends of
the houses. The houses had two
main areas: the hall, and the
parlor. The hall was the public
family and work space, while the
parlor was for the sleeping, but
was not necessarily private.
Cape Cod Homes. The Cape Cod
house, a variation of the Hall
This graphic from Pop Chart Lab illustrates the progression of American single
family house styles throughout time and includes additional styles not discussed in
Introduction to Housing (Kohlstedt, 2017).
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housing + communities: module 1
These illustrations show the common roof forms found across various house styles (Rucker).
known for their side gable roof, large, symmetrical
windows, and decorative door caps and cornices.
have several gables, towers, porches, bay windows,
diverse siding materials, and detailed millwork.
Specific Victorian era homes are classified today
as Queen Anne (most common), Eastlake, and
Shingle and Stick.
Greek Revival Style Homes. The Greek revival
home stemmed out of inspiration from ancient
Greek architecture and the idea of the ideal
single-family home with a garden surrounding.
The main attributing factor of these homes is their
large columns, often at the edge of a porch. They
also have symmetrical windows and decorative
cornices.
Bungalow Style Homes. Unlike the ornamental
Victorian era homes, Bungalow style homes took
a much smaller, simpler design approach. These
houses are usually one to one and a half stories
and have a low pitched gable roof. The entry sits
upon a high basement, and porches are often
supported by large columns. Today, these homes
are better known as Craftsman style.
Gothic Revival Style Homes. The Gothic revival
home is a picturesque style and contrasts the
stark white color of previous homes. Instead, the
colors of these houses were muted and the forms
more natural. Their roofs are steep and gabled
with highly decorative fascia. Also recognizable
are their decorative arch-topped double windows.
Prairie Style Homes. Prairie Style homes were
popularized in the early 20 th century following the
impact of the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. These
homes are typically two stories tall and have
low-pitched hipped roofs and wide eaves. Many
versions of this house were adapted by builders,
all of them maintaining the roof character and
the strong horizontal emphasis created by the
windows and trim.
Victorian Era Home Styles. In the late 19 th century,
the picturesque design focus led to what is now
known as the Victorian style. These homes are
composed of complex roof lines and forms. Many
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housing + communities: module 1
Tudor Style Homes. Tudor style homes were based
on late medieval designs and are known for their
steeply pitched front and cross gable roofs. Even
more distinctive of their style is false half timbering
covering gable ends.
started as post and beam construction which was
labor intensive and time consuming evolved into
stud frame construction. Stud frame construction
was not only quicker, but easier to assemble
around building corners. This relieved the design
constraint post and beam construction created
and allowed for more interesting, less box-like,
floor plans. Another home-altering innovation
was the cast iron stove. Prior, houses were heated
primarily by large fireplaces which took over
the center of the house. The cast iron stove was
smaller and required a smaller chimney, allowing
for more flexibility in house floor plans. Finally, the
railroad network was established and “permitted
shipment of lumber and millwork across the
country” (Merrill, 2018). This allowed for building
materials to be delivered to houses, expanding the
possibilities of what could be built.
Dutch Colonial Homes. Dutch colonial homes are
most recognizable by their gambrel roof, often
flaring at the bottom.
Ranch Style Homes. Ranch style homes were
designed as the automobile industry grew and
homeowners needed a place to store their vehicles.
These homes have an attached garage and are one
level. They are set low to the ground and have lowsloped side-facing gable roofs with wide eaves.
INDUSTRIALIZATION AND HOME DESIGN
Later, the increased options in transportation
prompted the sprawl of families outside of the
city. The ideal home was one in a suburban
neighborhood surrounded by trees and gardens
(Merrill). Developers encouraged families who
could afford it to move away from the city and into
the suburbs. Wealthy and middle class families
then made the move to “escape from the difficulties
of modern urban life but still be close enough
to enjoy many of its advantages” (Rees, 2016).
Unfortunately, those who could not afford to move
to the suburbs were left with rough conditions
in the city. What would eventually be known as
apartments were built to hold 20-24 families on a
lot that previously only housed one (Merrill, 2018).
The living conditions were extremely poor and
unsanitary. On the other hand, luxury apartments
were also created for those who preferred to stay
in the city and could afford high quality housing.
Though the living conditions were much better
than the other multi-family buildings, they were
criticized by those favoring the suburban lifestyle.
Industrialization played a large role in the
development of the home and the locations in which
families chose to live. With improved technology
came a more progressive way of building. What
FACTORY-BUILT HOUSING
Following World War II, there was an extreme
shortage of housing and a housing boom resulting
in the development of factory-built housing.
Homes were often shown in catalogs and ordered
via mail. The pieces were produced in pieces
then sent over to the site as a set of parts to be
assembled, similarly to that of a conventional
house (Merrill, 2018).
These graphics from PBS visualize citizens’ move from
more rural to more urban locations, and the growth of
suburban life over the past century ("Population").
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housing + communities: module 1
One memorable outcome of this method of construction is the Lustron Home. These homes took
advantage of the steel surplus and were made almost completely from porcelain enameled steel which
made up the exterior siding, the interior walls, and the roof tiles. 3300 pieces were loaded up on a truck
and delivered to the site of the house, ready to be assembled. The company did not last long as prices
were higher than anticipated, but 3,000 homes were produced and distributed beforehand.
These videos from The Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina (PRENC) show the last remaining Lustron Home in
Raleigh and the city's efforts to preserve it. The second video shows how the house was moved from it's original site to a city
owned location for historic preservation. The house traveled with a lot of supervision 9 miles across town, taking a total of three
hours ("Lustron House").
Choosing where to live seems like an easy decision, but there are many underlying factors that come into
play. One of the main concepts used to communicate this dissonance is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs,
which details why shelter is a basic human need and how it fulfills basic physical and psychological
needs (Beamish, 2006). Maslow’s model, pictured below, states that lower needs on the pyramid must be
fulfilled before moving up to higher needs. The basic needs are “Physiological”, or those required for basic
survival, and are very applicable to homes which serve as shelter. Moving up the pyramid, all aspects of
this hierarchy are prevalent in the way we choose a home. The “Safety” needs emphasizes how we want to
feel secure in our homes, “belongingness” due to the need for family interaction within a home, “esteem”
due to the social status and self-image associated with home ownership, and finally “self-actualization”
once your home allows you to tap into your full creative potential (Beamish, 2006).
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Mcleod, 2018).
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housing + communities: module 1
INFLUENCES ON HOUSING
CHOICES
The biggest factors in the
framework
that
influences
housing
choices
can
be
chalked up to demographic,
socioeconomic
and
psychographic characteristics.
As far as demographic data is
concerned, the US census is
an important resource that is
collected every 10 years and
presented to the U.S. House
of Representatives in order to
determine how resources should
be allocated. In recent years,
the rate of growth in household
formation has slowed to a
crawl. This is mainly attributed
to economic factors in the US,
which are preventing young
adults from forming households
separate from their parents
(Beamish, 2006). The image
below depicts current trends
among young adults and their
housing choices, with a clear
correlation between increasing
levels of student debt and
percentage of graduates living
with their parents. I personally
know many graduates that have
moved back home, even when
working full time, just because
the cost of owning a house is
too great to branch off on their
own.
Socioeconomic characteristics
are another set of factors that
influence ultimate housing
choice. This term is frequently
used by social scientists to
describe
the
hierarchical
grouping
of
demographic
characteristics like education,
occupation, and income. In
regards to housing, there are
five identified levels of social
class: lower class, working
class, lower middle class,
upper middle class, and upper
class. As far as relationships
Unemployment, housing cost, student debt, and living conditions of 25 year olds
(Bleemer, 2015).
are concerned, the association
between income and housing is
very clear because income is a
key factor in what a household
is able to afford. Occupation can
also be a very important factor
in determining the level of
income one makes, which also
determines the housing that a
household can afford (Beamish,
2006).
Psychographic
research
is
extremely helpful in answering
why people choose different
housing situations. It relates
consumer choices to values,
lifestyle, attitudes, opinions,
and interests which all have
an effect on housing choice.
Housing values which explain
people‘s
preferences
and
choices in selecting housing
contain ideas such as beauty,
comfort, convenience, location,
health,
personal
interest,
privacy,
safety,
friendship
activities and economy. A
household that is economically
minded may choose a home
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with cheap operating
while a household that is
focused may choose a
expensive home with
privacy (Beamish, 2006).
costs,
safety
more
more
According to a study by the
Housing Finance Policy Center,
millennials are much less likely to
become homeowners compared
to Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers.
This possibly stems from factors
such as the tendency to marry
and bear children later in life,
both of which are motivating
factors to settle down and
become homeowners. Another
big aspect is increasing student
debt, which decreases available
income to spend on a home
(Choi, 2018). Housing norms
are culturally defined standards
for choosing a home, with each
society setting an individual
standard of what is deemed
desirable. Tenure norms relate
to owning versus renting. While
home ownership was at a record
high in 2004, the recession
and stricter guidelines which
housing + communities: module 1
Top trends shaping the future of housing (Mac, 2016).
followed it caused that figure to drop. On the flip
side, renter rates have increased due to perceived
freedom of short term leases. The space norm
refers to the amount of space that is desired by the
homeowner. A household’s size, composition, and
family life cycle stage all play a role in determining
how much space is required. The structural norm
relates to the type of home that is chosen by a
homeowner. For most households, the singlefamily detached home is the predominant housing
structure. The quality norm refers to the condition
of the structure as well as the amenities within
the home. Common points for concern are homes
that contain asbestos or have paint with lead,
both of which pose a health threat to the home’s
occupants. As the name states, the location norm
is defined by the area that the home resides in.
Finally, the expenditure norm refers to the amount
of money spent on housing. The typical amount
spent on a dwelling is usually proportionate to
income.
individuals into believing home improvement
projects are easier than they are. One example
of this can be seen on Houzz.com, a website
that offers seemingly accessible and simple
possibilities for home improvement ideas. Such
possibilities include the proposal of products such
as furniture, kitchen and dining accessories, bath
products, and living room appliances. The site then
immediately transitions into their hiring services
of professionals to complete home improvement
projects. This includes kitchen and bathroom
remodeling, new home construction, general
contracting, and more. The misconceptions
proposed by websites such as these are primarily
generated through the simple presentation and
accessibility of their page layouts.
At the top of the home screen for Houzz.com is a
straightforward quote that states, “Get inspired.
Shop products. Find pros.” and thus inspires their
audience through depiction of simplicity. The
appearance that home improvement changes
can be completed by following three short steps
provokes individuals into becoming blind to
several aspects of home construction processes.
For example, when browsing the website and
selecting the tab “Kitchen Remodeling” under the
“Contact a Local Professional,” the site takes you to
a page where you can search and discover endless
options for kitchen improvements, emphasizing
the availability for creativity, allowing customers to
HOUSING TRENDS
The internet has made a significant impact on
society. Websites and television shows make
the “DIY” or Do-It-Yourself process look painless,
quick and easy. However, this is never the case
when it comes to construction. In recent years, the
internet has done an excellent job of persuading
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housing + communities: module 1
This video demonstrates one of the ways in which contracting companies and
material distributors persuade homeowners into believing that remodeling is far
more practical and simple than it is in actuality (BuzzFeed, 2018).
create their ideal improvement.
This emphasis on accessibility
to a wide range of possibilities
distracts the customer from
important
information
like
potential discovery of asbestos
or required relocation of load
bearing walls as to adjust for
your desired remodel. From
relocating plumbing and gas
lines for kitchen sinks and gas
range stoves, to repositioning
electrical for lighting, all
home improvement projects
hold
the
possibility
for
unexpected financial burdens.
Such information is vital to
understanding the financial
reality of hiring professionals
for
home
improvement
projects.
However,
the
internet is increasing in its
ability to influence and blind
customers
from
financial
actualities of hiring such offered
professionals.
The internet is known for
instigating and perpetuating
current trends and patterns in
home purchases, renovations
and home staging. For example,
according to “Top 10 Home
Design Trends to Expect in 2017,”
the current number-one home
decor swing is brass finishing
(Parker, 2017). Specifically, satin
brass is described as looking
“amazing against any color,”
(Parker, 2017).
in style, along with “Outdoorfeeling indoor showers,” and
“Counter-depth fridges” (Parker,
2017). These proclaimed trends
tend to dictate the construction
world and the process of
attaining popular materials.
Many websites are self-declared
“leading online platform(s) for
home remodeling and design,”
and often lead homeowners into
misinformed home renovation.
The second home trend is
“Voice-activated
assistants,”
insinuating that the normal
or average homeowner strives
to acquire “a voice-activated
interface for many smart home
devices,” (Parker, 2017). “Vanity
conversions” are third on this list
(Parker). Repurposed vanities,
cabinets and drawers are being
converted into built-ins for
current-construction
homes.
“White with off-white” is also
CONCLUSION
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Housing in America is constantly
changing and will continue to
do so as it molds to our ever
changing lifestyles. Housing
norms are a huge contributor
to the way we select housing
and will continue to have a
substantial influence on home
choice. Despite changing trends,
the primary need for shelter will
always remain the same.
housing + communities: module 1
REFERENCES
Beamish, J. O., & Gross, R. C. (2006). Introduction to Housing. Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
Bleemer, Z., Brown, M., Lee, D., & van der Klaauw, W. (2015, February 4). Household Formation within
the “Boomerang Generation”. Retrieved from https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.
org /2015/02/household-formation-within-the-boomeraNg-generation.html.
BuzzFeed Nifty. (2018, November 29). DIY Projects For First-Time Homeowners. Retrieved from https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d--b5vylkQc.
Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration, Kitchen and Bathroom
Design. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.houzz.com/.
Kohlstedt, K. (2017, January 6). What Style Is That House? Visual Guides to Domestic Architectural
Designs. Retrieved from https://99percentinvisible.org /article/style-house-visual-guidesdomestic-architectural-designs/
Lustron House. (0AD). Retrieved from https://www.presnc.org /properties/lustron-house/
Mac, F. (2016, November 16). Three Trends That Are Shaping the Future of Housing. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkJwZ_CuZAA.
Mcleod, S. (2018, May 21). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.
org /maslow.html.
Merrill, J., Anacker, K., Carswell, A., Kirby, S., & Housing Education and Research Association. (2018).
Introduction to Housing. Athens: The University of Georgia Press.
Parker, Mitchell. (2017, January 6). Top 10 Home Design Trends to Expect in 2017. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2017/01/06/top-10-home-design-trends-to-expect-in-2
Population: Urban, Rural, Suburban. (0AD). Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org /fmc/
book/1population6.htm
Rees, J. (2016). Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. In Oxford Research
Encyclopedia of American History. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://
oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore9780199329175-e-327
Rucker, D. (n.d.). Styles Of Roofs. Retrieved from https://www.tes.com/lessons/AA_rZ_JoutF6VA/stylesof-roofs.
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