The mid-century modern home is an iconic piece of American history. Dating back from the 1900s, the mid-century modern house plans began with architectural types like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style, to European modernism of the 1920s, and finally, to the mid-century modern home we see today.
Mid-Century Modern homes became popular in the 1940s for practical and aesthetic reasons. When soldiers came back from war, they required housing and as a result, the housing development sector needed to create a modern plan that was easy to put up and inexpensive to build.
Mid-Century Modern House Plans Characteristics
The popularity of the mid-century floor plan didn’t diminish as time passed. Coupled with the aesthetic that comes with the mid-century floor plan, certain characteristics of this plan creates beautiful, clean, modern lines that leave homeowners in awe.
Here are some characteristics that are unique to the mid-century house plan:
- While there are varieties, one-story homes seem to be the average build of the mid-century modern home.
- Mid-century styles usually have an open-concept theme.
- Numerous windows often overlook the outdoors. Mid-century homes often emphasize outdoor living hence windows bring the concept of outdoor living to life.
- With this floor plan, architects attempt to incorporate natural materials and elements into the interior spaces like wooden panels, exposed beams or concrete, and other stone features.
Benefits of Mid-Century Modern House Plans
While the mid-century modern house plan is popular, several architects will sell updated floor plans of this type of house.
That being said, there isn’t a reason as to why you can’t build your mid-century home. If you’re still wondering if this type of home is the best for you, here are some benefits of a mid-century floor plan”
- Harmonious Integration With Nature
The green industry has grown in momentum in the last two decades. There has been an upsurge in potential homeowners wanting to incorporate natural elements into their homes.
If that’s what you are looking for in a home, then the mid-century floor plan is right for you. It incorporates architectural elements like low-slung roof lines that mimic the slope of the land, large windows that help bring in copious amounts of light, and open concept living which can create harmony with the outdoors.
- Elderly Friendly
Many baby boomers are gearing up for retirement or have already retired. People in this age group are more likely to buy a mid-century modern home because they tend to be a one-story, ranch-style house.
Being a one-story house is great for elderly people because they don’t have to deal with stairs and many mid-century homes sprawl outward to make up for not having more stories.
Mid-Century Modern houses are great for those that have reached retirement age because the emphasis on nature means that it’s much easier for elderly people to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy an active, healthier lifestyle.
- Accessibility, Functionality, and Style
Many houses in the United States were built between the years of 1950 to 1975 which means that there are many different styles of the mid-century modern house plan available already. If you’re looking for a simplistic aesthetic, a 1950’s mid-century home might be what you’re looking for. With a couple of changes here and there, you have an accessible, functional, simple aesthetic that meets your needs.
Alternatively, you can look through different websites like Truoba where you can compare and contrast different Truoba mid-century modern house plans that work for your needs.
DrawBacks of Mid-Century Modern Houses Plans
While owning a mid-century home is all the rage currently, here are some drawbacks on these types of homes and floor plans:
- Cost
Back in the day, the mid-century house plan was one of the easiest homes to put up for soldiers and their families. These days, the cost associated with housing material, a construction crew, and the land that would be needed to build a mid-century home can be fiscally crippling.
That being said, you can buy a home and change the floor plan to meet your needs, but if not done correctly, this can still be an expensive venture.
- Coding Violations
Some of the building materials that were used in the 1950s to build this type of aesthetic are limited by law in certain countries.
For example, new energy laws that were rolled out in certain American states prohibit maximum utilization of glass which is a classic characteristic of mid-century homes and floor plans.
Final Thoughts
With the resurgence of films like Mad Men, the mid-century aesthetic has gained momentum in the modern world.
While there are some positive and negative aspects to designing the mid-century floor plan, researching this design is critical for you to achieve your desired aesthetic on a realistic budget.
FAQ’s
- How is my square footage calculated on my mid-century floor plan?
When creating a floor plan, it’s best to seek counsel from a professional. This way you can develop a floor plan with all the square footage incorporated and they will give you your total square footage for your mid-century floor plan.
