An old home tells a story. In the case of the classic Chicago style bungalow, it’s a story of a great city growing and expanding to accommodate newly arrived immigrants in the early 20th century. A city with so much to offer; a strong work ethic, a welcoming atmosphere, and a chance to achieve a dream of owning a place in the expanding patchwork of city neighborhoods. In a city of important architecture, the bungalow is enduring the symbol of Chicago at its most elemental level.
The Chicago Bungalow Belt describes an arc of connected neighborhoods extending from north to south around the western edge of the city. From around 1910 to 1930, as the population grew, Chicago residents pushed west to newly established neighborhoods with sturdy brick homes on city plots. The homes, though small by today’s standards, were idea for a growing family with access to green space, businesses, churches and good schools.
Eric Allix Rogers 
Image courtesy of Chicago Bungalow Assoc.
The new owners took pride in their homes adoring them with finely crafted finishes including tile roofs, leaded glass windows, custom cabinetry and built-ins. As Chicago continued to grow and expand into wide-ranging suburbs, many of the classic bungalows feel out of favor and suffered neglect. But in the past several decades as urban areas have regained popularity young city-dwellers have rediscovered the charms of the bungalow and their tight-knit neighborhoods.
Chicago Bungalow Characteristics
– Brick construction, generally in red or yellow
– Rectangular shape to fit comfortably on a standard Chicago lot
– One and one-half stories, a low hipped roof with wide eaves and a full basement
– Offset front or side entrance, often with a porch and stoop
– Arts and Crafts influences such as leaded glass and wide windows
In 2000 Chicago established The Chicago Bungalow Association to bring awareness and appreciation for this building type. Fourteen Bungalow Historic Districts have been established, providing tax incentives to owners to preserve and restore their piece of Chicago history.
Images courtesy of Eric Allix Rogers
License CC-BY-ND-NC 2.0
