Ranches

Ranch Homes

“The informality and straightforwardness of the California ranch house was somewhat responsible for, and reflective of, the 1950’s American lifestyle.”
American Shelter
Lester Walker

The ranch house became increasingly popular because of its ease of construction, low cost and efficient floor plan. We learned that the great disadvantage of the ranch has had much to do with that efficient floor plan. In many cases, rooms became hallways and there were no middle ground spaces between the public space of living and dining rooms and the private bedrooms.
One of the truly special features of these ranch houses is their expandability, especially vertically. Unfortunately, in the process of adding a 2nd floor, many ranches have ended up with the aluminum sided space ship landed on the original house. As part of the addition process our preferred approach is to provide a new look for the ranch so we can ensure the resulting transformation is studied and holistic.

California Dreaming

A Kaleidoscope of Light

All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray

I've been for a walk on a winter's day

I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A.

California dreamin' on such a winter's day

California Dreamin’

The Mamas & Papas

Because the site is large enough, we decided to expand this house horizontally and keep it a ranch. The existing kitchen and dining room will become the new kitchen, the existing garage will become a new Great Room and a new garage, holding room, and parents’ suite will be added. The new patio will be accessible from both the great room and parents’ suite—giving this home a California ranch quality. The exterior will have all new windows and doors and new stucco.

“Thus, when--out of my delight in the beauty of the house of God--the loveliness of the many colored gems has called me away from external cares, and worthy meditation has induced me to reflect, transferring that which is material to that which is immaterial, on the diversity of the sacred virtues: then it seems to me that I see myself dwelling, as it were, in some strange region of the Universe which neither exists entirely in the slime of the earth nor entirely in the purity of Heaven; and that, by the grace of God, I can be transported from this inferior to that higher world in an anagogical manner.”

So spoke the Abot Suger upon the completion of the cathedral at St Denis in the early 12th C.

When we added a 2nd floor to this 1950’s ranch, the owner asked that we incorporate art glass windows into the project. The windows we chose are replicas, made under license to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, of those used by Wright at the Unity Temple in Oak Park. These windows are placed at triangular bay spaces that extend beyond the wall of the home and are sheltered by the broad overhangs. The most prominent of these is the 2 story bay at the stair. These south facing windows bring an abundance of light into the home.

Bud Dietrich AIA ALA NCARB

15501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Suite 3708 Tampa, FL 33647

1310 Johnson Drive Suite 1715 Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

847-757-8001

bud@hfdarchitects.com