What Defines a Home as a Bungalow?
The original bungalow home is a quaint cottage or cabin-style home that is single-story or one-and-a-half story. The half story is an upper story built (almost hidden) into the sloped roofline of the home.
Bungalows are known for their compact footprint and are seen as small and cozy. It is a single-family home with an open floor plan. The main living spaces all flow into one another. Bungalows often have spacious front porches that run the entire length of the front of the home. They are most often built in a craftsman style architecture on the exterior which was a popular style in the early 20th century when bungalow homes made up a majority of homes constructed.
Since the first bungalow homes were constructed the definition of a bungalow has grown to include other types of homes. This cottage style smaller footprint single-family cozy home is what most people think of when they say bungalow.
The History of Bungalow Home Architecture
The first bungalow homes were built in Bengal India during the mid-17th century at a time when of British rule in India (known as the Colonial Era 1757-1947). Bungalow homes were built to be casual homes for ambassadors and housing for travelers. The bungalow-style home later moved into Britain in the 19th century.
Bungalows came to the States in the early 20th century. They were extremely popular in Southern California at the time. The growth of Los Angeles at the time brought the need for small single-family homes on the outer rims of urban areas. From here the home design took off across the country and became popular in urban areas like Philadelphia.
Why Bungalows are Sought After in Philadelphia
Bungalow homes are still highly sought after in Philadelphia. These cute cozy homes offer the ultimate comfort and benefit of a single-family home with a lesser maintenance demand and often a smaller price tag compared to other single-family home types in Philadelphia.
The biggest draws to living in a bungalow home are the price, privacy, and accessibility. They are ideal for buyers starting out in property ownership, or someone looking for a home to age in place. Philadelphia bungalows are often located in charming desirable neighborhoods not far removed from the dense urban hotspots of the city.
If you are currently considering the purchase of one of Philadelphia’s most charming single-family homes, contact the team at Victory Real Estate. We are a team of extensively experienced Philadelphia real estate agents ready to find you the ideal Philadelphia home.