What’s That House? A California Home Field Guide
It’s been a bit since we last looked at the California housing market. To be honest, the general climate of the market hasn’t changed: luxury home sales are roaring, lumber supplies are flagging, and eager homebuyers have their finger on the trigger while they wait to snipe their dream property. Yep, lumber’s still in a rut. The price of plywood alone has risen by up to 77%, and lumber prices alone can tack on an extra $36k to the price of a new home. Meanwhile, housing inventory across the country is still at puddle proportions. The good news? California only appears once in the top cities who’ve lost listings this year. Vallejo, CA is also considered one of the hottest housing markets in the nation. It may not be the sigh of relief we’re looking for, but the California market is shaping up to fare okay during these unpredictable times.
If you’ve got your eye on the Californian housing market, it pays to know what you’re getting into. We don’t just mean housing prices and mortgage rates, either. Knowing the history behind your favorite homes is always important because it gives them another dimension. Put simply, it richens your ownership of the house. To that end, we’re going to talk about some of the coolest architecture styles you’ll find in and around Orange County.
Spanish Revival
If there’s any style of home that really says “California,” it would have to be the dwellings inhabited by original native tribes. We don’t have many of those left today, so the next best thing is probably the Spanish Revival-style home. This style boomed in popularity during the early 20th century, thanks to the Panama-California Exposition of 1915–1917. Though Spanish Revival really encompasses a multitude of styles, common themes include red-tiled roofs, white stucco walls, low-slung horseshoe archways reminiscent of early California missions, and wrought iron accents. The result is a vibrant blend of Spanish, Moorish, English, and Native American themes, part-palace and part seaside villa. One of the Spanish Revival style’s prominent names is Paul R. Williams, a Los Angeles legend who built many of Hollywood’s most lavish homes as well as housing for the city’s rising Black middle class. Williams was also the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects.
American Craftsman
Also called California Bungalow, American Craftsman homes resemble rustic cottages or wilderness lodges. They’re low to the ground and supported by sturdy columns, with spacious front porches to boot. These homes were an offshoot of the Arts and Crafts Movement, which began in 19th-century Britain as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution and made its way to America during the 1900s. Brothers Charles Sumner and Henry Mather Greene were some of the earliest proponents of the American Craftsman style; among other feats, the Greene brothers designed the grandiose Robert R. Blacker Home in Pasadena. This movement would go on to influence many other schools of architecture, including out next entry: Modernism.
Modern
The Modernist school of thought entered the architectural landscape after the end of World War I and persisted throughout most of the 20th century. Coinciding with similar movements in other visual art media, Modernism rejected the notion of traditional, cohesive style. Instead, it emphasized “form over function,” where the house’s ability to shelter its inhabitants took precedence over putting on a pretty face. To accomplish this, Modernism drew from multiple sources, including minimalism (later exemplified in the austere concrete monoliths of Brutalist architecture) and elements from architecture around the world. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is perhaps most notable for mixing minimalism with traditional Japanese architecture. Some of Laguna Beach’s most impressive houses were designed by the late Mark Singer, who combined concrete faces with massive glass panes to create houses that seem to float in midair.
Not to be confused with Postmodernist architecture, which ditches the sleek minimalism of the Modern school for a discordant, almost chaotic aesthetic. You might know Postmodernism best from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, whose wavy exterior was designed by none other than Frank Gehry.
Art Deco
The term “Art Deco” brings to mind exotic, almost mystical facades with ornate geometric forms. It first came to prominence after the 1925 Exposition des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, where it quickly made its way overseas to Los Angeles. This style employs smooth surfaces, heavy stonework, and angular shapes that evoke images of the Egyptian pyramids and the Mesopotamian Ziggurats. Few buildings capture the majesty of Art Deco better than Claud Beelman’s Eastern Columbia Lofts, whose gothic motifs would make it at home in Gotham City.
Midcentury Modern
Nothing exudes optimism quite like a Midcentury Modern home. Built with sleek, clean edges and an emphasis on spacious interiors as well as exteriors, Midcentury Modern homes were born out of necessity. Following the end of World War II, California faced a housing shortage. Dozens of architects from USC and elsewhere took up the challenge of getting California’s homes back on track while making the most of low-cost materials. Above all, these Midcentury Modernists believed that a home should invigorate its owner, which they primarily accomplished by creating homes that linked directly to the California landscape.
Of the big Midcentury Modern names, Richard Neutra left one of the greatest impacts on the California landscape. He designed homes in and around Orange County, many of which can still be admired today.
Have a renewed interest in purchasing an unusual, exciting home in or around Laguna Beach? Get in touch with Cary Glenn at Main Beach Realty in Laguna Beach, CA. With 20 years of experience in beachside and luxury home real estate, Cary Glenn will work closely with you to help you find a solution that works best for you.
