Honolulu Tudor–French Norman Cottages
Encyclopedia
During the boom years of the 1920s, as immigration and tourism to the Territory of Hawaii
from the West Coast of the United States
increased sharply, many new private homes for the growing middle class showed the design influence of the California bungalow
s or Mock Tudor English cottages so popular in the Continental United States. One of the most influential architect
s in Honolulu, Hart Wood
, had published a series of articles extolling the appropriateness of the English cottage
style for suburban living. In 1920, he moved his practice from San Francisco to Honolulu, where he designed three of the fifteen exemplary English Tudor–French Norman Cottages built during 1923–1932 that were added to the National Register of Historic Places
on 5 June 1987.
The Tudor features include asymmetrical, multilevel floor plans and projections, half-timber and stucco
facades, small-paned casement window
s, and roofs that are either high-pitched or rounded to resemble thatching
. Although some of the same features mark grand Tudor mansions like the Charles M. Cooke, Jr., House
, these cottages are much more modest structures of one to three stories, built of frame or masonry, with more playful or romantic elements evoking imagined "olde English" or French Norman antecedents. The interiors are designed to be cozy and intimate, with much more wall space than window openings, often with fireplace
s and open-beam ceiling
s.
California regional styles also influenced new public buildings in the Territory. Spanish Colonial Revival and, more broadly, Mediterranean Revival architecture
can be seen in Honolulu Hale
, President William McKinley High School
, the Fire Stations of Oahu
, and numerous other public buildings erected during this period.
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
from the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
increased sharply, many new private homes for the growing middle class showed the design influence of the California bungalow
California Bungalow
California bungalows, known as Californian bungalows in Australia and are commonly called simply bungalows in America, are a form of residential structure that were widely popular across America and, to some extent, the world around the years 1910 to 1939.-Exterior features:Bungalows are 1 or 1½...
s or Mock Tudor English cottages so popular in the Continental United States. One of the most influential architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s in Honolulu, Hart Wood
Hart Wood
Hart Wood was an American architect who flourished during the "Golden Age" of Hawaiian architecture. He was one of the principal proponents of a distinctive "Hawaiian style" of architecture appropriate to the local environment and reflective of the cultural heritage of the islands...
, had published a series of articles extolling the appropriateness of the English cottage
Cottage
__toc__In modern usage, a cottage is usually a modest, often cozy dwelling, typically in a rural or semi-rural location. However there are cottage-style dwellings in cities, and in places such as Canada the term exists with no connotations of size at all...
style for suburban living. In 1920, he moved his practice from San Francisco to Honolulu, where he designed three of the fifteen exemplary English Tudor–French Norman Cottages built during 1923–1932 that were added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on 5 June 1987.
The Tudor features include asymmetrical, multilevel floor plans and projections, half-timber and stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
facades, small-paned casement window
Casement window
A casement window is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a...
s, and roofs that are either high-pitched or rounded to resemble thatching
Thatching
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge , rushes, or heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates...
. Although some of the same features mark grand Tudor mansions like the Charles M. Cooke, Jr., House
Charles Montague Cooke, Jr., House and Kuka'O'O Heiau
Charles Montague Cooke, Jr., House and Kūkaōō Heiau is a property in Honolulu, Hawaii. The house, also known as Kualii , was built in 1911–1912 for Charles Montague Cooke, Jr., and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985...
, these cottages are much more modest structures of one to three stories, built of frame or masonry, with more playful or romantic elements evoking imagined "olde English" or French Norman antecedents. The interiors are designed to be cozy and intimate, with much more wall space than window openings, often with fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
s and open-beam ceiling
Ceiling
A ceiling is an overhead interior surface that covers the upper limit of a room. It is generally not a structural element, but a finished surface concealing the underside of the floor or roof structure above....
s.
California regional styles also influenced new public buildings in the Territory. Spanish Colonial Revival and, more broadly, Mediterranean Revival architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
can be seen in Honolulu Hale
Honolulu Hale
Honolulu Hale , located on 530 South King Street in downtown Honolulu in the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, is the official seat of government of the city and county, site of the chambers of the Mayor of Honolulu and the Honolulu City Council.In the Hawaiian language, hale means house or building...
, President William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School, more commonly referred to as McKinley High School, is a public, co-educational college preparatory high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education and serves grades nine through twelve...
, the Fire Stations of Oahu
Fire Stations of Oahu
The Honolulu Fire Department operates their 44 Fire Stations on the Island of Oahu, and in and around Honolulu. Seven current or former stations are on the National Register of Historic Places, of which five are still in use today as fire stations....
, and numerous other public buildings erected during this period.