Contemporary: 1945 to 1990
As the century aged, house styles swung back to high-styled architect designed homes, albeit in a much different shape. Contemporary was a favored style from about 1945 to 1965 as a natural outgrowth of the ranch house and Wright’s Usonian concept (with its open interior space, window walls, and outdoor space seen through balconies and porches). Then it faded for a number of reasons – mostly because it was too avant-garde for most buyers, bankers, and developers. It was primarily an architectural exercise, and did not catch on as a popular American home.
Earlier in the century, housing designs emphasized the external decorative details that could be placed on doors, windows and walls. The Contemporary style focused on the interior space and the use of it to get to the outdoor view.
This example is at 36 Clarks Crossing.
Building innovations of the 1930s enabled this trek to the outdoors: thick plate glass, the development of exterior grade plywood in eight foot lengths and new glues. The designs moved the focus from the interior, which could still be a limited space, and expanded it to include the outside. This was done using enclosed courtyards, or establishing gardens and ponds for the specific purpose of being viewed from the interior of the home. Many of the features developed for the ranch house, particularly the eight foot. ceilings, carried over to contemporary.
42 Briggs Avenue has a carport under the low-pitched gable roof with deep overhanging eaves.
It was built in 1958 for Robert W. Murdock. It was a part of the Fairport Meadows Subdivision owned by Domenic Prinzivalli in 1927.
The style was adaptable to steep hillsides where the ranch was not, although the split-level and raised ranch tried. In addition, the house could be a two-story, as well as a one-story, and require a smaller footprint. This is also the first we see of the carport: a sheltered area for storing the automobile and often a hidden entrance to the home. The fireplaces were heavy masonry, and as seen in the ranch style, were kept long and low.
At left is the Voplex Corporation building designed by local architect Carlton "Bud" DeWolff in 1970.
It is located in Perinton at 1100 Pittsford/Victor Rd.
For more information see the article on the right.
Characteristic Details
Form
A low-pitched gable roof with deep overhanging eaves and a broad uninterrupted wall space across the front facade. The focus was on natural materials: wood, stone, brick and sometimes concrete block.
Roofs
Most common is the simple front-gabled form that enabled the high placed gable end windows in the interior vaulted ceiling. There are two variations: a broad one-story form with a low-pitched roof, and an asymmetrical gable front found most often on split-level homes. Flat roofs are not uncommon, and the slant roof was popular. Exposed rafters or rafter ends were another popular detail.
Windows
Window walls were the outstanding feature of these homes, and appear as entire or partial walls throughout the home.
Doorways
Entrances are simple and deeply recessed - often hidden either through the carport or through a garden. Decorative grilles or screening fences were used to hide the carport or the entryway from the street view.
33 James Street is an example of a two-story comtempory with deep overhanging eaves and exposed rafters, and a window grouping of large floor to ceiling windows. This two-story home with a ground level garage is built with concrete blocks and shingles.
This property was a part of the Streppa Tract. It was built in 1957 for math teacher, Neil P. Maxom and his wife.
For an index of other styles that can be found in the Perinton area go to the Architectural Styles page in the History section.