M6| Friday, August 9, 2019 THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
COMPARISON SHOPPING
A-Plus A-Frames
The singular architectural style is angling for a comeback, thanks to a renewed appreciation for the triangular form
F
ew American home sil-
houettes are as immedi-
ately recognizable as the
classic A-frame, with its
steep pitched roof that extends
down to or near the foundation.
The emergence of a new middle
class in the 1950s and 1960s made
second homes a reality for many
more people and manufacturers of
plywood and other materials pro-
moted A-frame homes as the per-
fect structures for vacation homes
near the beach or mountains.
“Postwar years, the middle
class had more free time and
more disposable income,” says
Chad Randl, author of the 2004
book “A-frame” and a visiting pro-
fessor of architecture at Univer-
sity of Oregon.
The A-frame style fit into a de-
sire for second homes to be more
offbeat than owners’ more utili-
tarian year-round houses. “You
could put up with things you
wouldn’t necessarily want to deal
with in your year-round house,”
Mr. Randl says. For instance,
these homes frequently lacked in-
sulation and the shape made it
difficult to arrange furniture.
Enthusiasm for the form began
waning in the 1970s as people
sought more generic-looking vaca-
tion homes or, particularly during
the gas crisis, skipped the second
home all together.
Today, existing A-frames have a
newfound cache. Architectural nos-
talgia has revitalized the public’s
appreciation for them and the tiny-
home movement has led many to
prioritize efficient use of space.
“Somebody looking for one of
these now is after something that
is a bit more playful, that evokes
the postwar ideas of design, and
fits in with attitudes about living
more modestly, even if the land
that they’re on is quite expensive.”BYADRIENNEGAFFNEY3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,800 square feetHAMPSTEAD, N.C.// $1.29 MILLION
2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1,200 square feetHOMEWOOD, CALIF.// $630,000
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DEBORAH DEGRAFFENREID; JASON BOGER/FOCIIS; CANDACE AND KURT WILLIAMS/PHOTO-TECTURE; CHRIS KAYSER; GEORGE CHAN
4 bedrooms, 3^1 / 2 bathrooms, 3,500 square feetROXBURY, CONN.// $1.69 MILLION
5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4,265 square feetELKHORN, WIS.// $1.27 MILLION
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,792 square feetKANEOHE, HAWAII// $1.08 MILLION
Issue Date: September 13 | Close Date: August 16 | Section: Mansion
Foradvertisingopportunities,pleasecontact:
AndrewBrodyat617.654.6718|[email protected]Reachanaffluentaudienceofrealestatebuyerslookingforluxury
propertiesinyourarea. TheWallStreetJournal’supcomingspecial
advertisingfeaturewillhighlightthelocalcommunities,neighborhood
amenitiesandotherfactorsthatdrivesalesinyourmarket.Thesection,distributedtoourNewYorkaudience,providesa
targetedopportunitytoreachseriouslocalbuyerswithinengaging
andrelevantcontent.©2019DowJones&Company,Inc.AllRightsReserved.Westchester &
Fairfield Homes
STAND UP TO CANCER IS A DIVISION OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOUNDATION, A 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.
MASTERCARD IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK, AND THE CIRCLES DESIGN IS A TRADEMARK, OF MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. AVENGERS: ENDGAME ONLY IN THEATERS APRIL © 2019 MARVELLori, breast cancer survivor.Pictured: Heroes from Marvel Studios’Avengers: Endgame.
Survivor photos by Kevin Lynch.Pearl, childhood cancer survivor; and Arnold, leukemia survivor.AVENGERS:ENDGAME,MASTERCARD,ANDSTANDUPTOCANCER
AREJOININGTOGETHERTODAYTOHELPTAKEDOWN
ONEOFTHEBIGGESTVILLAINSOFALL:CANCER.
JOINUSNOWATSTANDUPTOCANCER.ORG/MASTERCARD.
STANDUPTOCANCERFUNDSGROUNDBREAKINGRESEARCHINPURSUITOFITS
MISSION TO MAKE EVERY PERSON DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER A LONG-TERM SURVIVOR.MARVEL STUDIOS’MANSION
NY