Modern House Plans
Modern house plans are becoming much more popular than they used to be. Houses built from modern home plans are less futuristic looking now, and suit the lifestyles of many younger couples. Our collection of modern home designs continues to grow.
Common Characteristics of Modern House Designs:
- Often, but not always, composed of geometric shapes
- Suited to today’s tech savvy young adults
- Ever changing, as architects reinterpret the style
- Often designed to house the latest in gadgetry and appliances
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What follows are excerpts from “A Field Guide to American Houses”, written by Virginia & Lee McAlester, and published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1984
Modern ca. 1935-present
IDENTIFYING FEATURES
Most domestic building ceased between 1941 and 1945 as the United States prepared for and fought World War II. When construction resumed in 1946, houses based on historical precedent were largely abandoned in favor of new variations of the modern styles that had only begun to flourish in the pre-war years. The earliest of these, the Minimal Traditional style, was a simplified form loosely based on the previously dominant Tudor style of the 1920s and ‘30s. Like Tudor houses, these generally have a dominant front gable and massive chimneys, but the steep Tudor roof pitch is lowered and the façade is simplified by omitting most of the traditional detailing. These houses first became popular in the late 1930s and were the dominant style of the post-war ‘40s and early ‘50s. By the early 1950s they were being replaced by the Ranch style, which dominated American domestic building through the ‘60s and is still popular in many parts of the country. These are one-s tory houses with very low-pitched roofs and broad, rambling facades. Some lack decorative detailing, but most have decorative shutters, porch-roof supports, or other detailing; these were usually loosely based on colonial precedents. Also during the 1950s the closely related Split Level style, with half-story wings and sunken garages, began to emerge. These generally have some traditional decorative detailing but their unusual form clearly marks them as modern houses. A somewhat less common modern style, the Contemporary, completely eschews traditional form and detail, and was particularly favored in architect-designed houses of the 1950s, ‘60s, and early ‘70s. These generally have wide eave overhangs and either flat roofs or low-pitched roofs with broad, low, front-facing gables. Exposed supporting beams and other structural members are common. Contrasting wall materials and textures, and unusual window shapes and placements are also typical features. The most recent of the modern styles is the Shed style. Like the Contemporary, this style eschews traditional detail and is most common in architect-designed houses of the late 1960s and ‘70s. It is characterized by one or more shed-roofed elements, usually of moderate to high pitch, which dominate the façade and give the effect of several geometric forms shoved together.
The five styles described above are by far the most common modern styles built since 1940. Many additional modern designs have, however, appeared through this period. Some have been dominated by regional design considerations or legacies, while others have been inspired by energy-conservation considerations or by new and experimental advances in building technology.