150
World War II/Post-War Building Styles Following the 1930s, residential architectural design began a process of combining the influences of historial allusion and modernism. This happened to a lesser degree during the first two decades of the 20th century, when the bungalow introduced a sleek, somewhat modern appearance locally with little reference to the past. However, following World War I, historical American and European housing types influenced residential architecture with the introduction of the Period Cottage and Period Revival styles. Traditionalism seemed to appeal more to American taste, and thoroughly modern styles became a novelty both in Utah and across the nation. As the century progressed, however, Modernism had an increasing influence on traditional housing types. Houses that formerly paid homage to the past in many details were now becoming pared down and spare in architectural adornment. Cottages became mere boxes during World War II, and then evolved into the longer Ranch house in the 1950s. Although these houses paid homage to the past in some ways, during this transformation style became less of a factor in architecture as form took over and sentimentality waned. Both very modern and very historically influenced examples of architecture were being constructed during this era; however, the combination of the two was what appealed to the masses, as suburban developments across the country attested. Enormous building projects ensued as suburban growth swelled and people left the city for greener pastures. Improvement in roads and increased automobile ownership drove the move away from urban residency. Larger house lots accommodated the wide ranch house that sat parallel to the street (as opposed to early types that extended back into the property on narrow lots). Setting also became more emphasized as planned subdivisions incorporated landscaping into the overall design.
