There's a Yiddish word --- ongepotchket --- that means all messed up, or slapped together. I've coined a new form of today's architecture --- Ongepotchket Architecture. I challenge anyone to look at homes built from 1970 to today, and name the form of architecture --- Federal Colonial, Victorian, Greek Revival, Antebellum, Arts & Crafts? These were classic designs, and, as with all things classical, they have endured over the years. Then builders and architects began taking license, combining design eras, and even making up their own. Many designs became so difficult to sell, builders (thankfully) stopped making them: Bi-Levels, Split-Levels, faux Tudors, Mansard-roof Colonials, and Contemporaries (unless you live at the beach or in the mountains).
When I moved to Franklin Lakes, in the early 70s, they had what they called an Architectural Committee, that reviewed all house plans before you were permitted to build. At that time, identical homes were not allowed to be built on a block, except every three homes. "Ugly homes" were given revision ideas (translation: you must be kidding --- no way!). At the time, I thought it outrageous that people who weren't paying for my plans were telling me what I could and couldn't do in the design. I understood they had to make sure the home was built to code, but to decide on the esthetics??
When I drive through towns today, I wax nostalgic for the Architectural Committee. They made the life of a Realtor so much easier.
Comments(2)