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World War II & Post War Residential Building Types You will notice that floor plans do not accompany the later house types in this guide. In these cases, field investigation has not progressed to the extent that specific sub-categories have been identified. But since it seemed wise to point out areas needing further research, we have included these large, general categories in an effort to acknowledge their importance in Utah architecture. We hope that continued investigation by future researchers will more fully describe and explain these important forms During the second half of the 20th century, changes occurred in housing design as a result of innovations in construction and technology as well as an unprecedented demand for single-family dwellings. During World War II, a shortage of construction materials led to smaller, more efficient housing designs influenced by the federal government’s plans for war industry-related housing projects. About this time another major design change was taking place–and that was in how a house interfaced with the street. In prior decades, the primary focus of the Victorian cottage and bungalow types was on the street side, where one could sit on the large front porch and visit with neighbors. However, as the period cottage replaced the bungalow as the most popular house type, the porch became smaller and took on a less significant role. With the development of the World War II-era cottage and the ranch house types, the porch had diminished to little more than a stoop. Then, during the 1940s and 1950s, as new subdivisions sprang up almost overnight and older neighborhoods became crowded with new infill, residents desired more privacy from the street, and the focus of the house shifted toward the back yard, particularly in the Ranch house. These post-war types influenced later housing types for many decades and can be found in any community, rural or urban.
