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The homes are most popular in the eastern and midwestern United States, and less so in the South and West. Style characteristics: Builders and designers of the era believed that by creating three levels of living space, the split-level best expressed the needs of the modern family.
Do people still build split-level houses?
Split level construction is still commonly seen today where it’s necessary to build a home on the side of a hill. In this case, the floor plan is often designed by an architect to fit the individual lot topography. The end effect can lend the appearance of the house being built into the hill.
Where did split-level homes originate?
Split-level homes evolved out of suburban ranch homes of the 1940s. A ranch house with flair, the split-level house, or split foyer offered more space for baby boomers. Buyers of today love these family-friendly homes because of their locations in family-friendly neighborhoods.
When were split-level houses popular?
Although split-level homes originated in the 1950s and 1960s, they gained immense popularity in the 1970s thanks in part to the famous split-level house in the sitcom The Brady Bunch.
Why are split-level homes not popular?
While split-level houses are preferred by some homeowners, they can be unattractive to others, making them harder to sell. Some of the features that might make a split-level house hard to sell are having too many stairs, limited natural light, a floor plan that feels choppy or no curb appeal.
Why do people love split-level homes?
The split-level blueprint allows for more separation between downstairs and upstairs than other home designs and is great for those who want to have an office, gym, or hobby space downstairs. The money-savvy might even rent out a downstairs bedroom to a roommate.
What are the disadvantages of split-level houses?
3 Disadvantages of Split-Level Homes Stairs can challenge people with restricted mobility. Even though the stairs in split-level homes are short, you will constantly be climbing stairs when you’re moving through this type of home. Remodeling a split-level is difficult. They can be difficult to sell.
Who invented the split-level house?
The split-level concept grew out of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style of architecture, said Elwin Robison, an architectural historian at Kent State University in Ohio, who jokingly refers to his own split level as “neo-Wrightian.” Robison noted that one of Wright’s home designs, published in Ladies’ Home Journal in Feb 15, 2003.
What is the difference between a raised ranch and split-level house?
What’s the Difference Between a Raised Ranch and Split Level? Technically speaking, a split-level has more than 2 levels, usually with staggered half-story changes between them. While a raised ranch has two levels, the lower level sunken below grade and an entry at grade halfway between the two floor levels.
What architectural style is a split-level house?
Some architectural historians consider the Raised Ranch (also called a Split Entry) as a style just what the name implies; a Ranch style house perched atop a basement or first floor level housing a garage and finished room.
What makes a house neo eclectic?
Neo-eclectic architecture is a rejection of the modernist tendencies found in ranch, bi-level and split level housing. Houses incorporate a variety of architectural elements from numerous styles such as colonial revival, craftsman, tudor, cape cod, and mission, just to name a few.
Are split levels harder to sell?
Split-level homes are harder to sell because of a combination of the age of their owners and the age of the actual houses. A large older population trying to sell many split-level homes creates abundant supply, while their dated decor combined with wear and tear lowers demand.
Is a split-level a 2 story?
Split-levels often have two sides: a single-story side and a two-story side, according to Deseret News. The two halves are positioned so one floor is half-way between the other two, connected by small staircases. The stacked design allowed for more space to be built into a home that was on a small plot of land.
What is a California split-level home?
A true California split-level house consists of three or four levels of living space with the floor level of one part of the house about halfway between the floor and ceiling of the other half of the house.
Are split-level homes energy efficient?
Energy use is also inefficient in split level homes. Though levels are separated, they are still open, preventing the control of energy usage on unused levels.
What do you call a house split in two?
A duplex house plan has two living units attached to each other, either next to each other as townhouses, condominiums or above each other like apartments.
How do you make a split-level house look modern?
Consider these split-level home renovations that brighten the entire space: Replace and add windows. Small windows can make a home look dated. Add a skylight or solar tubes. Bring in some light from above too! Go for custom mirrors. Install custom lighting. Use light paint colors. Remove walls.
Do raised ranches have basements?
A raised ranch is a ranch-style house that’s been set on a foundation that allows living space below the main level, usually in the form of a basement halfway below grade with a bathroom and/or laundry room, and sometimes a garage.
