- This presentation will identify the key defining elements of the Ranch house interior: the context and significance of the interior as a component of a newly Register eligible resource; its role in the change of desirable living standards in the 1950s and 1960s; and the challenges associated with its preservation.
I skimmed and it looks great. I’ll watch the whole thing this weekend and get even smarter. Enjoy!
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Watched the 20 min. lecture; very informative, and I loved the pics! I think it is a good idea to live in a house for awhile — maybe even a full year so you can really get to know your house, before making huge modifications. That way you end up realizing the WHY behind certain things like floor plan, door/window placement, etc… You usually can’t put back vintage materials once torn out. Thanks for sharing the video on the site, Pam! 🙂
Wow. Just listen to what she says around 17:58.
boooooooooo
Fabulous to see the original marketing brochures~
I found that it was an informative lecture that basically summarizes some of what I’ve read about ranch houses during my research into potential modifications to my own home. She read very, very quickly, so I did miss some of the asides. Not sure what she was talking about in terms of the mother in the photograph vs. the graphic illustrations of the brochures.
I don’t think I’ve heard anyone talk about an open concept floor plan as a feature of 1950s and 1960s ranch houses.
I’d like to see if she has published a book on the ranch house that might go into more detail about her understanding of the social significance of the home.
Nope, couldn’t find anything by her.
I agree with your comment re open spaces. My 1950 ranch is anything but open. Every single room has a separation.
I watched this over the weekend and it was difficult at times to follow what she was saying. I associate open floor plans with mid century modern houses. The ranch house typically has the L-shaped living dining rooms that are open to each other so I thought that’s what she meant. At some point my ranch dining area was actually sectioned off from the living room with an arched opening creating a formal dining room so I guess that makes it a closed plan. Regarding the photo of the mom with the stern face, I think she was adding her own insight how in reality it wasn’t all smiles like the graphics always implied.
I really enjoyed this video, a lot of great information! Couldn’t help but notice a certain shade of “Delightful Jade” Boomerang Formica used as a background for some the slides!
Yes, I noticed that too!
Thank you for the presentation. The information will be collected and used for our home.
Thanks again.
The entire decade is a cultural treasure. The period of 1945-1965 is one without equal in the history of our country.
Great lecture. It’s so distressing that so many folks really dislike the distinctive interior and exterior features of these houses and can’t wait to tear them down and replace them with McMansions. It’s happening in my town too. Personally, I think a misguided view of potential resale value is a factor. In my home city of Toronto, Canada, there are a few key areas of the suburbs that have been identified as genuine mid century, and are awaiting the long process of historical designation. However, the real estate agents here are really behind the times and have not given these houses the respect that they deserve. They are constantly encouraging people who want to sell a 1950s home to “update” its characteristic features in order to make it more saleable. Also, TV decorating and reno shows poke fun at these homes and promote a bland cookie-cutter sameness in their approach. I just can’t watch these programs anymore. They’re part of the problem.
I’m not adverse to updates that are necessary and safer, but PLEASE, folks, think carefully about the character of the house.
If you have a ranch, work with it, don’t fight it. There are great resources out there with examples of respectful updates, a few of which were shown in the lecture. The result will be well worth it. Future generations will thank us for it.
So well said, Karin! When we bought our home, I felt it was our mission to SAVE it from destruction. Lack of appreciation for these homes plagues Los Angeles in general, but particularly my neighborhood. We’ve seen so many ranches with original tile, built-ins, gingerbread detailing, etc. reduced to studs so the new owner can build a 3,500-square-foot-plus faux Cape Cod (which are so trendy here right now). I wish I had the means to buy them all up and preserve them!!
This video raised a few interesting points approximately 75,000 ranch houses are bulldozed a year. I wonder what the figures are over here in Australia for fibro, weatherboard and red brick houses. The speaker raised an interesting point which I have found to be very true with the general public. That is they are very common houses which are everywhere and are not historical, hence no respect of the finite houses which are left.
Also one more point here in Sydney and I am sure many other places a lot of these places are on a decent size block of land and are generally seen as strictly as land for mcmansions or units.
Well that pretty much sums up every explanation I’ve given to someone when they seem baffled by my fixation on details and original materials as I make my way through my 1955-er. Thanks for sharing!
PDF Master’s thesis “The identification and preservation of 1950s Ranch House interiors”
https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/kviklys_laura_a_201105_mhp.pdf
Thanks!