The Design Layout of '50s Rambler Houses

Rambler Design Concept

• These postwar homes were designed on three concepts: livability, flexibility and unpretentious design. The single story and low gabled roof fostered livability since all the rooms were on one level. The linear layout of the homes makes for flexibility in design; builders could switch rooms around to suit customers. Ramblers were also known for sliding doors and large windows that visually connect the home to the outdoors.

Typical Layout

• The typical rambler home layout included a living room with an adjoining kitchen, a hallway with two or three bedrooms at the back of the house, along with one or two bathrooms. Patios were often included to extend living space to the outdoors. A rectangle wasn't the only shape used for ramblers. Variations included an L-shape or a U-shape, but homes still retained a simple layout.

History

• One architect in particular became associated with rambler homes. Cliff May of Los Angeles was the collaborative author of Sunset magazine. Sunset magazine grew into a widely read periodical and promoted the ranch house design. Before the war, Sunset had promoted the modern ranch heavily, setting the stage for its boom in popularity in the 1950s. During the postwar period, large tracts of land were subdivided. The rambler predominated these "tracts" because of the affordability and appealingly informal design layout.

Considerations

• The rambler home has fallen out of favor since its heyday in the 1950s. According to the California Department of Transportation, the homes have simply gone out of style. Another factor is that some studies have concluded that the ranch house represents a period in history that was not sophisticated. However, Family Home Plans maintains that the old rambler style has staged a small comeback.