965 Fourteenth Street was built in 1949 and is an outstanding example of a Usonian style house that was indicative of the Mid-Century Modern architectural era. The term Usonian was coined by Frank Lloyd Wright, a prominent architect during this time. Usonian style homes are designed to support an indoor-outdoor lifestyle where the building “flows” on its landscape and people “flow” from room to room. Often these buildings are a mix of materials used to emphasize the different style such as the light frames around the windows and the dark stone at the base of the house. This home is stylistically different than many other Laramie Usonian style homes, which tend to be more muted designs. This stylistic difference may be due to this home’s prominent location on a street corner.
During the mid-century modern building period an emphasis was placed on the family. Contrasting window sizes show the location of bedrooms and living rooms. 965 Fourteenth St. is a split-level Usonian that has large windows facing away from the street for privacy. Something that marks this as a Laramie home is that the larger windows are facing the south, better to gather light and heat from the sun in the winter months.
Mid-century modern homes were generally built with a family vehicle in mind. Due to 965 Fourteenth Street’s placement on a street corner the driveway and garage were placed on the downward slope with another entrance facing Fourteenth St. This entrance makes use of mid-century modern features that were concerned with privacy. The door is set behind a glass tiled wall on one side and a stone privacy screen to one side. A focus on privacy came into play during this time period, and such features were attractive ways to provide for that. This is a form that was borrowed from Japanese style architecture which became popular at the end of World War II.
The Usonian style home is one of the most iconic styles of mid-century home. Many were made famous throughout the country due to the daring break from traditional home construction. 965 Fourteenth Street has many of these daring features introduced at this time such as the “hanging” eaves which were made possible by new building materials. In addition, the flat roof that accents the angles of the house has given this Laramie home flair, a futuristic look from a time period dedicated to a technological future.
965 Fourteenth Street inhabits a neighborhood that sprang up in the years after World War II. The homes in that part of Laramie tell a story of more lavish homes like these, and their inexpensive pre-fabricated counterparts that were necessary to provide homes for soldiers and their families. The ideal of the time was to own a free-standing home and the various styles of mid-century architecture provided that opportunity.
Homes like 965 Fourteenth Street show glimpses into our American past when our countrymen and women were dreaming big. This time period was filled with big dreams and hopes for the future. These homes show the progression of Laramie to the modern day. Laramie has a great opportunity to show its progression through time, from the pioneers of the frontier to the pioneers of space. Homes like these have great value to demonstrate Laramie’s history and that of the nation at large.
During the mid-century modern building period an emphasis was placed on the family. Contrasting window sizes show the location of bedrooms and living rooms. 965 Fourteenth St. is a split-level Usonian that has large windows facing away from the street for privacy. Something that marks this as a Laramie home is that the larger windows are facing the south, better to gather light and heat from the sun in the winter months.
Mid-century modern homes were generally built with a family vehicle in mind. Due to 965 Fourteenth Street’s placement on a street corner the driveway and garage were placed on the downward slope with another entrance facing Fourteenth St. This entrance makes use of mid-century modern features that were concerned with privacy. The door is set behind a glass tiled wall on one side and a stone privacy screen to one side. A focus on privacy came into play during this time period, and such features were attractive ways to provide for that. This is a form that was borrowed from Japanese style architecture which became popular at the end of World War II.
The Usonian style home is one of the most iconic styles of mid-century home. Many were made famous throughout the country due to the daring break from traditional home construction. 965 Fourteenth Street has many of these daring features introduced at this time such as the “hanging” eaves which were made possible by new building materials. In addition, the flat roof that accents the angles of the house has given this Laramie home flair, a futuristic look from a time period dedicated to a technological future.
965 Fourteenth Street inhabits a neighborhood that sprang up in the years after World War II. The homes in that part of Laramie tell a story of more lavish homes like these, and their inexpensive pre-fabricated counterparts that were necessary to provide homes for soldiers and their families. The ideal of the time was to own a free-standing home and the various styles of mid-century architecture provided that opportunity.
Homes like 965 Fourteenth Street show glimpses into our American past when our countrymen and women were dreaming big. This time period was filled with big dreams and hopes for the future. These homes show the progression of Laramie to the modern day. Laramie has a great opportunity to show its progression through time, from the pioneers of the frontier to the pioneers of space. Homes like these have great value to demonstrate Laramie’s history and that of the nation at large.
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