60's-70's contemporary homes

[residentialguy]

You walk in the foyer...see steps. You have to go UP to a level on either side, or DOWN to the garage and the lower right area...It is a split level.

"Raised" ranch is a silly term....but if you insist, this is what I called a raised ranch - the entry door is level with the upper level not half way between floors and there is no overhang on the upper level

I have to disagree. Look at the term "split level" It means a level is split. ie kitchen dining is on one half of the level and then you walk up to the other 1/2 of the level for your bedrooms.

Now look at the term "Split entry". The entry is split. You just described a Split Entry. "You walk in the foyer...see steps. You have to go UP to a level on either side, or DOWN to the garage and the lower right area" I've also seen it called a Bi-Level, which might be more accurate to your picture as Split entrys enter into a wing portion, often connected to the garage.

It is a different design to a split level. aka 3 level split or 4 level split. I've seen some with 6 or more levels (house of stairs)

I agree, the above photo would be a raised ranch/rambler.

But....this is for MN. Results may vary per location.

 

[Michigander]

I bet the U of M professors swoon over the contemps. The style does seem to appeal to most Liberals as well. AA is a perfect place for the style.

Coming to AA for the game this weekend. I'll be in the Pioneer lot in the RV section. Go Blue.

Which is why it is location specific.

Having grown up in A2, I stay away from football games and the Art Fair. Guess it goes with the location as well. Will root with you though for the good old Maize and Blue.

 

[ValuMan]

Check out Palm Springs CA - it has become a Mecca for people interested in Mid 20th century Modern and Ranch residential properties - and I am not talking retirees, though they like 'em too.

We love the homes, I love appraising them and as also a Broker, have sold 'em too. They are gems that recent owners (over the past decade) have upgraded (some to the nines) to retain the architectural integrity and the design charm but make them meet today's high tech dwellings. Now, and even more, when the market soon turns around, economically, the new trend in the city will be a continuation of those designs, primarily Modern, simplistic but elegant, for the New Century Design period, and they will be the contemporaries through 2000- 2020. Then, who knows.

We have conventions and tours of the homes, Weekend and week long seminars and public and architectural toursand tract walk-abouts, and it is a huge attraction for the city.

I can't believe other cities with many of the mid 20th century home tracts haven't jumped on the band wagon. Check out on the web - Google: Palm Springs Modern. There are many sites promoting the homes our initial thread subscriber "hates".

 

[PLCG]

"You walk in the foyer...see steps. You have to go UP to a level on either side, or DOWN to the garage and the lower right area...It is a split level."

That would be a bi-level in my neck of the woods, because it really only has 2 levels. Split levels have 3 or 4 levels with maybe a 4' stair from one level to the next. :new_all_coholic:

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

The pix i used are labeled as what is described in the photo search of google. I suppose that doesn't make them right. So check this out... The split level is the invention of Frank Lloyd Wright.

http://www.ehow.com/about_6569124_california-split_level-home_.html

A true California split-level house consists of three or four levels of living space with the floor level of one part of the house about halfway between the floor and ceiling of the other half of the house. The front door typically opens up directly to the main living level where you'll usually find a living room, dining room and kitchen. The upper level is reached by a short flight of stairs and consists of bedrooms and bathrooms. By descending another short flight of stairs from the main floor, one finds the den or family room and entry to the garage, which is often level with the driveway.

California split-level homes have living room/dining room/kitchen areas on a separate level than the bedrooms and bathroom or den and garage. In a traditional bi-level home, there are only two levels (rather than three or four) with two short flights of stairs separated by a front door foyer. One short flight of stairs leads up to the top floor with the living room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. Another short flight of stairs leads to the lower floor, often partially below ground, that contains informal living areas and the garage.

BTW, we see about 1 "whatever-level" house about once every 3 years. They never were popular here. We see only slightly more "raised ranch" or homes with a basement.

 

[prasercat]

I don't frown on any particular style, its just when the style isn't appropriate for the neighborhood or when almost nobody is looking for that style in that particular area; such as, a Victorian or Modern - Deco or even traditional style in the mountains. However, cities and even mountain towns are good place for Victorian style (often prized in many historic or quaint older urban neighborhoods), urban-suburbs are great for traditional styles and even modern's. The most unique homes are best in the most unique areas where values are high and buyers tend to be unique with unique bank accounts and a desire to be different. Unique homes require privacy and separation from other homes, since two very different styles junxtaposed next to one another creates visual "noise" and is unappealing.

I've concluded that a mass histeria affected most everyone in the 60's and 70's and lead to some sort of extreme uniformity of bad taste in the name of "contemporary".

If you want something to go out of style quickly that needs updating and remodel every 7 years to 10 years, that's the style to choose. If you live in an area of privacy, such as the mountains, building a log home, stone fireplace, stone floors, stained natural woods, natural wood doors, C&B, wood beams, rustic metal (such as, copper or iron) fixtures, that represent nature in much of its construction and appeal, it will be most resistant to ever getting dated. In fact, in many ways, the older it gets, the better, like a bottle of wine (assuming it is well maintained).

Nobody walks into a cave or a forest and says (Sheesh! this cave and forest is so 60's, I don't know what God was thinking!). Natural elements and appeal will always be in style, and the more a home uses these natural elements the more timeless it will be (IMHO - I'm not talking about faux or faked materials that look like natural elements)

So......I'm in the market for a CAVE with running water......seen any?

 

[Lloyd Bonafide]

I don't understand it sometimes at all, but there are certain areas around San Diego where Contemporary-style homes will often sell for top dollar vs. other styles.


http://www.merceryork.com/ContemporaryArchitectureForSale.html

 

[AnonApprsr]

They are gems that recent owners (over the past decade) have upgraded (some to the nines) to retain the architectural integrity and the design charm but make them meet today's high tech dwellings.

This is how people, at least intelligent people, treat Victorians around here. They'll keep all the right things original, and even buy "old" fixtures that are in like-new condition, etc, but add just the right amount of "today's" amenities. It's a tough balancing act and I've seen some really nice 1800s homes ruined by a yuppy who goes on a spree. And I mean they spent 200,000 to devalue the home by 300,000.

 

[prasercat]

I don't understand it sometimes at all, but there are certain areas around San Diego where Contemporary-style homes will often sell for top dollar vs. other styles.


http://www.merceryork.com/ContemporaryArchitectureForSale.html

This thread appears to be referring to Modernism and Modern Styles as Contemporary. Modernism is much more popular in Europe than the US and in commercial construction here. Frank Loyd Wright was never contemporary here nor widely accepted for residential construction, although most of these homes tend to be overlooking cities, on the fringe between city and mountain or in unique private locations. I recently did a Modern-Deco-Southwest Hybrid styled home. It was a one of a kind; however, it was in the right place for a Modern, for a Deco and for a Southwest; however, nobody in that area ever put them all together into one concept.

Please see: http://architecture.about.com/od/20thcenturytrends/ig/Modern-Architecture/Modernism.htm
Please see: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/contemporary_architects.htm

Here's a good definition of the basic tenents of Modern Architecture:
Modern architecture is usually characterized by:

• an adoption of the principle that the materials and functional requirements determine the result
• an adoption of the machine aesthetic
• an emphasis of horizontal and vertical lines
• a creation of ornament using the structure and theme of the building, or a rejection of ornamentation.
• a simplification of form and elimination of "unnecessary detail"
• an adoption of expressed structure
• Form follows function

Contemporary architecture may be an extension of modernism but not necessarily. It tries to push the envelope, be something that is apart from tradition. Form may not follow function, it may be ornate, its materials and functional requirements may not follow the end result of the design. I think the overwhelming design element in these photos is Modernism, although one can have a contemporary style based upon modernism, so there is a gray area. However, in my everyday appraiser languange, I refer to these homes (without knowing much more than their most striking exterior design style, as Modern Homes. Contemporary homes in my everyday language is the flavor of the day. It's what is widely accepted today as the "new" style that everyone has to have. I know this is not really a very good definition from the architectural standpoint, but it seems to be understandable to most. Modern homes or those that have a considerable degree of modern styling are normally hard to appraise and much depends upon their location in an appropriate market place where examples of buyer demand are evident.

 

[Vermonter]

That's a raised ranch.

No it's a split foyer.