A-Frame house
Encyclopedia
An A-frame is an architectural house style featuring steeply-angled sides (roofline) that usually begin at or near the foundation line, and meet at the top in the shape of the letter A
. An A-frame ceiling is open to the top rafters.
Although the triangle shape of the A-frame has been present throughout history, it surged in popularity around the world in the post-World War II
era, from roughly the mid-1950s through the 1970s. It was during this time that the A-frame acquired its most defining characteristics.
turned the old idea of the A-frame into a new fashion in 1955 when he built an A-frame house on the beach in Long Island, New York; it is known as the Reese House. Named for the distinctive shape of its roofline, Geller's design won international attention when it was featured in The New York Times
on May 5, 1957. Before long, thousands of A-frame homes were being built around the world.
A documentary titled Call Me Andy, previously expected to come out in the first few months of 2007, chronicles Geller's life. It discusses the design of the first A-frame, along with Geller's other designs. A broadcast of the documentary is anticipated to air on PBS
.
The Abbey Resort in Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin
claims to have the world's tallest wooden A-frame.
popularity of the A-frame has been attributed to a combination of factors including Americans' extra disposable income
, the inexpensiveness of building an A-frame structure, and a new interest in acquiring a second home for vacationing. Another factor contributing to the rise of the A-frame included the adaptability of the structure itself, which enabled architects to experiment with more and more modern designs. A-frames were a perfect medium in which architects could explore their creative side, since they were relatively cheap to build. Additionally, many people preferred the idea of a 'modern-style' vacation home to that of a 'modern-style' primary home.
After the rise of the archetypal A-frame, architects soon began experimenting with new designs; this led to what became known as the modified A-frame style.
A
A is the first letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet. It is similar to the Ancient Greek letter Alpha, from which it derives.- Origins :...
. An A-frame ceiling is open to the top rafters.
Although the triangle shape of the A-frame has been present throughout history, it surged in popularity around the world in the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
era, from roughly the mid-1950s through the 1970s. It was during this time that the A-frame acquired its most defining characteristics.
Style
Architect Andrew GellerAndrew Geller
Andrew Geller is an American architect best known for designing modern beach houses in the coastal regions of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut during the 1950s and 60s. In 1955 he designed the Elizabeth Reese house, built in Sagaponack, New York...
turned the old idea of the A-frame into a new fashion in 1955 when he built an A-frame house on the beach in Long Island, New York; it is known as the Reese House. Named for the distinctive shape of its roofline, Geller's design won international attention when it was featured in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
on May 5, 1957. Before long, thousands of A-frame homes were being built around the world.
A documentary titled Call Me Andy, previously expected to come out in the first few months of 2007, chronicles Geller's life. It discusses the design of the first A-frame, along with Geller's other designs. A broadcast of the documentary is anticipated to air on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
.
The Abbey Resort in Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin
Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin
Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,754 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is located at ....
claims to have the world's tallest wooden A-frame.
Rise in popularity
The post-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
popularity of the A-frame has been attributed to a combination of factors including Americans' extra disposable income
Disposable income
Disposable income is total personal income minus personal current taxes. In national accounts definitions, personal income, minus personal current taxes equals disposable personal income...
, the inexpensiveness of building an A-frame structure, and a new interest in acquiring a second home for vacationing. Another factor contributing to the rise of the A-frame included the adaptability of the structure itself, which enabled architects to experiment with more and more modern designs. A-frames were a perfect medium in which architects could explore their creative side, since they were relatively cheap to build. Additionally, many people preferred the idea of a 'modern-style' vacation home to that of a 'modern-style' primary home.
After the rise of the archetypal A-frame, architects soon began experimenting with new designs; this led to what became known as the modified A-frame style.
External links
- A-frame Style from Picture Dictionary of House Styles in North America and Beyond on About.com, by Jackie Craven
- A Frame Home-An A Frame home in the Hollywood Hills owned and restored by Nicky Panicci