The Birth of the A-Frame

Oh, hi 👋. Didn’t see you there. Definitely not running out of obscure intros references for this section… definitely not. So, how about we jump right into this week’s content? Let’s talk about A-frame houses.

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The Story 🗞️

The Birth of the A-frame

When thinking of the mid-century, one rarely thinks of the A-frame. Yet, the A-frame was a familiar concept at the time, mainly as a remote getaway in the woods or along the coast. One thing is certain: the A-frame home is more than just a distinctive architectural style. It's a symbol of a particular time in American history, a marker of the mid-20th century's vision of leisure and recreation.

Long before A-frames became popular vacation rentals for American weekenders, the all-roof-no-wall architectural style was widely used globally—and still is today—from the traditional Japanese farmhouses of Shirakawa-go, Japan, to Maori meeting houses (marae), to the ski chalets of Switzerland, and beyond.

However, the A-frame house as we know it took off in the United States during the post-World War II era, a period marked by a burgeoning middle class and a newfound enthusiasm for leisure and vacation homes. It’s the American midcentury adaptation that cemented its place in architectural history.

One of the early pioneers of the A-frame in the U.S. was architect Rudolf Schindler. Known for his innovative and experimental designs, Schindler built the first modern A-frame house in Lake Arrowhead, California, in 1934. This structure, known as the Gisela Bennati Cabin, featured the characteristic steep roof and open interior that would become hallmarks of the style.

In the 1950s, architect Andrew Geller further popularized the A-frame with his 1957 Reese House in Long Island. This design showcased the A-frame's unique ability to blend with nature while providing a modern, practical retreat. Publications like The New York Times featured Geller’s designs, sparking widespread interest and inspiring countless imitations and variations.

The Triangle House Phenomenon

The enthusiasm for A-frame houses soared through the early 1970s, eventually reaching such a high demand that numerous companies and institutions began offering prefab A-frame kits. These kits, available throughout North America, were customized to suit clients and local environments, making them affordable and relatively easy for anyone to assemble over a few weekends with friends. With these kits, up to eighty percent of the construction was handled by the homeowner, reducing reliance on contractors and architects.

However, what goes up must come down. By the mid-1970s, A-frames began to lose their allure, shifting from inspired hillside homes to mass-produced structures found at every rest stop and recreation area, regardless of region. As the 1970s gave way to the consumption-driven 1980s and 90s, new A-frame construction essentially ceased. Lavish condos quickly replaced second homes, resort towns shifted to cater almost exclusively to the ultra-affluent, and many leisure areas became inundated with homogeneous complexes and extravagant single-family homes.

Buy it For The Architecture 🏡

Around The Web 🌐

Product Pick: Feel closer to nature as you build your own LEGO A-frame cabin. (link)^*

Modernist Stays: This peaceful retreat will make you live the pleasures of an A-frame home. (link)

Pool Skateboarding: When skateboarding culture and architecture meet. (link)

^*This is an affiliate link.

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