May 22, 2025 | 1940s, 2020s, reaction paper, Week 8
Architecture has long been run by white males. Although not clear right away, historical architecture is stripped of any signs of culture other than white culture. The building forms, being bare and white, are in stark contrast to the rich culture of black people, filled with colors and patterns. This is a deeply rooted issue because it has not only affected the general public’s understanding of architecture but has also influenced architectural education and the future of architecture. America and many other countries have been working towards mending the relationship between architecture and black culture, but we still have a long way to go.
Figure 1: An AI-generated image of two black women working on a quilt on the side of a skyscraper.
Produced by Curry Hacket, 2023
Curry Hacket, a black architect, has been working to rethink architectural thought through the production of AI-generated images. He incorporates aspects of black culture into buildings that were not previously representative of the culture. This is one of many steps that have been taken towards mending this relationship.
Figure 2: An advertisement from the house beautiful magazine of appliences. The main figure in the advertisement is a white family.
House Beautiful Magazine, April 1940, Page 1
“Good News for Mr. and Mrs, America!”
This is an advertisement in House Beautiful magazine showing a white family as the main subject. The white male hovers over everyone else, making him visually the largest subject. His position over the family makes him look like the most powerful and in control individual on the page and perhaps in the whole magazine.
Apr 6, 2025 | -week 1, 1890s, 1920s, 1960s, 1990s, 2020s
My question revolves around the floor plans of homes and how they have changed. Specifically the number of rooms and what their purpose is.
As time has progressed, there are less rooms with specific purposes. Multi-purpose rooms have become more popular especially in the kitchen and dining realm.
Fig 1- Floor Plan with separate kitchen, dining room, pantries, and a serving room.
“House Beautiful” March 1960 issue (page 107)
“The Old Grove House in Chiswick, England”
Fig 2- Floor Plans with a separate kitchen, dining room, and living room. But, no serving room or butlers pantry.
“House Beautiful” February 1920 issue (page 119)
Fig 3- A Floor Plan with a combined living room and dining room, with a separate kitchen.
“House Beautiful” May 1960 issue (page 202)
Fig 4- A Floor Plan where the kitchen and dining area are integrated together
“House Beautiful” August 1990 issue (page 80)
Fig 5- A Floor Plan with separate, yet seamless kitchen, living, and dining rooms.
“House Beautiful” 2022 Whole Home Project Article
Apr 6, 2025 | -week 1, 1930s, 1960s, 1990s, 2020s
Throughout time, dining rooms have been spaces where families and others gather to share large or small humble meals. However, this trend has noticeably taken a different form in the United States, molding into something reminiscent of the past and adapting to modern life.
Hypothesis: Since the 1920s, the American dining room has shifted from a site of familial closeness to a space of silence and occasional productivity, reflecting broader cultural changes in family dynamics and domestic life.
Explanation: In the early 1900s, the American household was larger, but on average, houses were smaller. Dedicated dining rooms were shared spaces in between points of traffic large enough to seat each family member and the occasional guest. In the 60s, a booming economy led to grander dining rooms “that [work] for a party,” marking the beginning of loneliness and beautification of dining rooms. Throughout the 90s, there was a shift back to the familial purpose of these spaces, but the rise in technology and productivity led to the dining room becoming an unused statement piece of a home.
Fig. 1, 1930, House Beautiful, pg. 150, “A Kitchen Corner Transformed by Its Architect Owner. Walls of tawny grey and dark oak woodwork form the background of this small kitchen-dining-room. The Sturdy oak table and benches were designed by the owner and make a charmingly dignified group [, with a bit of color in the grey-blue piping of the black rep cushions and in the blue china and gleaming pewter.”
- A small, intimate dining set in the middle of a transitional space prepared for shared family meals.
Fig. 2, Dec. 1961, House Beautiful, pg. 103, “The dining table is really right in the middle of the kitchen, but it serves for far more than the family’s meals. Eight can sit comfortably around it, so it is often used for company. As this photograph indicates, there would be nothing second-rate about serving an elegant dinner here.”
- This dining “room” is set in the middle of the kitchen, but hidden from spaces with high volumes of people. The size of the table and amount of decorative elements make it difficult to share an intimate meal.
Fig. 3, June 1990, House Beautiful, pg. 75, “Above left: Stairs lead up to a study, down to the master suite and a second bedroom. The site of the cottage slopes down in back, so that both bedrooms open to a patio. Pine console table, $350; slipper chair, $260; J.C. Penney. Wicker table, $650, Manderley. Left: The living room adjoins this deck, which has a sea view. Chairs, $120 each; stool, $60; umbrella, $120; J.C. Penney. Opposite: The dining room, separated from the living room by the stairwell, also adjoins the deck. Table, $700; chairs, $200 per pair; hutch and buffet, $800 for set; J.C. Penney.”
- This cozy dining room is a a blend of the two previous examples. It is a space meant to house a family or gathering.
Fig. 4, April 2025, House Beautiful, https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/dining-rooms/g41924197/dining-table-decor-ideas/, “Circular Tray. Robert McKinley Studio brought the circle motif to life with a spherical paper pendant light but added contrast by sharpening the window trims with black paint, laying a square rug on the concrete floors, and hanging a small classic gilt frame. A lazy Susan on the center of the table adds personality and makes it easier to reach the salt.”
- Although the space is small and aesthetically pleasing, this dining room feels like an art piece rather than a place to sit down with a loved one for breakfast. It feels as if it is missing life.