The Enduring Legacy of Chicago Bungalows

Between the 1910s and the 1930s, second-generation Americans in Chicago moved from crowded older neighborhoods to newly annexed areas. To meet their housing needs, the bungalow emerged as an ideal solution. Chicago, rebuilt after the Great Fire, had strict building codes mandating brick, alongside an abundance of local brick production. This combination made it feasible to construct many affordable, boxy houses.

The housing boom of the 1920s transformed construction practices across the United States. There was a high demand for common houses equipped with modern conveniences. According to The Chicago Bungalow, a book by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the bungalow became the quintessential middle-class home in Chicago. It was solid, compact, and designed to fit on narrow lots.

Currently, more than 80,000 bungalows exist in the city, comprising a third of single-family homes. These homes form a crescent-shaped area from the Northwest Side to the Southwest Side, known as the Bungalow Belt. After World War II, bungalows were less favored, eclipsed by ranch and split-level styles. Nonetheless, Chicago’s durable bungalows have endured for a century.

Today, they remain a preferred choice among immigrants, immigrant families, and young families. The bungalows continue to play an essential role in the city’s housing landscape.