“Home, Sweet Bungalow Home (3-7)

(1) When the author, who is also a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, asked his students to design a small house, what was their response?

(2) According to the author, what are some of the virtues of a small house?

(3) When the author was a student, he admired the houses designed by Le Corbusier and Alvar Aalto. What did he find attractive about their architecture?

(4) What did the author like about the houses of the American architect, Louis Kahn?

(5) The author also admires Frank Lloyd Wright, whom he refers to as an “illustrious architect.” Why does he admire Wright?

(6) Rybczynski writes, “The architectural profession was never interested in the problem of the little house…” What is his explanation for this oversight?

(7) On page seven, read the entire last paragraph of this chapter. The last sentence reads, “Finding an equally successful solution to the current problem of American family home will not prove easy.”
Why will it not be easy? Your answer should be at least 150 words.

“The Androgynous Home” (18-21)

(1) According to what the author writes in this chapter, provide a 100-word (minimum) definition of the androgynous home.

(2) The author states that the home has now become an androgynous home and “is here to stay” (21). He also claims, “This should not dismay us, nor is it cause for alarm. As before, we can create a sense of well-being in our homes. Only now, we—women, men, and children—must share in the making” (21). Explain what you believe are the physical qualities of a home that will make it attractive for all members of the family.

“Getting Away From It All” (34-48)

(1) What are the differences between Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright in their ideas about country houses?

(2) Rybczynski writes, “The original American contribution to the villa tradition was the weekend cottage.” What social dynamics allowed for the weekend cottage to flourish?

(3) Why did the travel trailer become so popular in America?