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A-frame building

January 01, 1970

An A-frame building is an architectural style[1] of building that features steeply-angled sides (roofline) that usually begin at or near the foundation line, and meet at the top in the shape of the letter A. An A-frame ceiling can be open to the top rafters.

The Bennati House, in Lake Arrowhead, California. Rudolph Schindler's original A-frame design, 1934.
An example of an A-frame house in Gillette, Wyoming
Traditional A-frame thatched house (palheiro), Santana, Madeira, Portugal
An A-frame house owned and restored by Nicky Panicci in the Hollywood Hills, an example of an architectural A-frame.
A historic photograph of an A-frame sod roof house in the Netherlands. Image: 20309407 - RCE

Although the triangle shape of the A-frame has been present throughout history, it surged in popularity around the world from roughly the mid-1950s through the 1970s. It was during the post–World War II era that the A-frame acquired its most defining characteristics.

Style edit

A-frame buildings are an ancient form in Europe (e.g. cruck frame construction or grubenhaus), China, and the South Pacific islands. Sometimes called a roof hut, these were simple structures used for utilitarian purposes until the 1950s.[2] In 1934, R. M. Schindler built the first modern A-frame house, for owner Gisela Bennati, in Lake Arrowhead, California.[3] Architects Walter Reemelin, John Campbell, George Rockrise, Henrik H. Bull, and Andrew Geller helped to popularize Schindler's idea in the early 1950s, designing A-frame vacation homes.[2] In 1955, Andrew Geller built an A-frame house on the beach in Long Island, New York, known as the Elizabeth Reese House.[2] Geller's design won international attention when it was featured in The New York Times on May 5, 1957.[4] Before long, thousands of A-frame homes were being built around the world.[5]

The Abbey Resort in Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, claims to have the world's tallest wooden A-frame.

Rise in popularity edit

The post–World War II popularity of the A-frame has been attributed to a combination of factors including Americans' extra disposable income, the inexpensiveness of building an A-frame structure, and a new interest in acquiring a second home for vacationing.[2]

Another factor contributing to the rise of the A-frame included the adaptability of the structure itself, which enabled architects to experiment with more modern designs. A-frames were a useful medium in which architects could explore their creative side since they were relatively cheap to build.

Additionally, many people preferred the idea of a "modern-style" vacation home to that of a "modern-style" primary home. A-frames became available as prefabricated kits, lowering the cost even more, and were sold by Macy's department stores.

After the rise of the archetypal A-frame, architects soon began experimenting with new designs, which led to what became known as the modified A-frame style.

Example edit

Residential examples edit

Religious examples edit

A-frame buildings which had been made popular since 1955 by Andrew Geller were built for churches across the world. The modern shape was reinterpreted spiritually as representing "hands at prayer" since 1961 and the design of the Holy Cross Anglican Church in Tokyo by the Czech-born American architect Antonin Raymond. His use of interlaced pillars was inspired by the traditional Japanese traditional country minka houses known as gasshō-zukuri (合掌造り), literally "clasped-hands style".[11]

Early examples of A-frame religious buildings are the Frank Lloyd Wright designed First Unitarian Society of Madison, built 1949–1951, as well as the Lutheran Church of the Atonement, designed by Harris Armstrong and built in 1949 in Florissant, Missouri.[12] Charles E. Stade designed dozens of A-frame church buildings in the United States throughout the 1950s and 1960s,[13] along with Edward D. Dart and Edward Sövik.[14] The style was in 1960 used by the Catholic Church to build Saint Joseph Church, Lynden, Washington[6] just before the Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in 1961. It was used most impressively for the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel inaugurated in 1962.

 
One of the earliest English A-shape churches, the Yaddlethorpe Methodist Church, built in 1967

At the same time, the A-frame used was in Europe as early 1959 for Bakkehaugen Church in Norway by architect Ove Bang who was an advocate of functionalism. When the Arctic Cathedral in 1965, the A-frame church had become a new identity of religious architecture in Scandinavia. It spread to Europe and was used in 1967 to build the Yaddlethorpe Methodist Church in Yaddlethorpe.

The A-shape religious building made it across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand with the Whiteley Memorial Methodist Church dedicated on 19 October 1963 considered as "Taranaki's most beautiful building".[15]

Christian religious buildings have also adopted the A-style architecture mainly in South East Asia. The first example after Japan might be the Luce Memorial Chapel in Taiwan in 1963, followed by Saint Michael's Church in Sihanoukville in 1965, Xavier Hall Catholic Church in Bangkok in 1972, or the Church of the Pastoral Center in Da Lat in 2010 are some examples of a similar architectural style.

This style is still popular in Europe also, as in Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel in Finland in 2005.[16]

Commercial examples edit

 
A-frame roof Wienerschnitzel restaurant in Whittier, California

Educational examples edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "A-frame". Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. on CD-ROM (v. 4.0). Oxford University Press, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Randl, Chad. A-frame. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004. Print.
  3. ^ "The (R.M.) Schindler List". from the original on 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  4. ^ Fred A. Bernstein, "Andrew Geller, 87, Modernist Architect, Dies", New York Times. December 27, 2011 March 20, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. accessed 1/26/2014
  5. ^ "Starting A Roofing Business". from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29. Thursday, 29 April 2021
  6. ^ a b c d e "A-frame / 1950 - 1990 / Washington State Examples". 8 July 2014. from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Alexandra Lange (September 22, 2017). "The A-frame effect: Not just another house, but a way of life". from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  8. ^ . May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ document[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Agenda". Park City Municipal Corporation. October 16, 2013. from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
  11. ^ "Tokyo Sei Juji Kyokai: Holy Cross Church, Tokyo". Nippon Sei Ko Kai: Anglican Episcopal Church in Japan. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Mid-Century Modern Church Survey Religious Structures 1940 – 1970 in St. Louis County" (PDF). Missouri State Parks. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Charles E. Stade". A Chicago Sojourn. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. ^ "The Quietly Dangerous Suburban Church". The New Republic. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  15. ^ Palmert, Harriet (2009-08-26). "Taranaki's most beautiful building". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  16. ^ "St Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel by Sanaksenaho Architcets". Architizer. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  17. ^ "Travelers Rest Motel". SAH Archipedia. 17 July 2018. from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.

Bibliography edit

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to A-frame buildings.
  • A-frame Style 2007-01-04 at the Wayback Machine from Picture Dictionary of House Styles in North America and Beyond on About.com, by Jackie Craven
  • A-frame Home - An A-frame home in the Hollywood Hills owned and restored by Nicky Panicci
  • Website (archive) about an a-frame house located in Phoenix, AZ.

January 01, 1970
frame, building, architectural, style, building, that, features, steeply, angled, sides, roofline, that, usually, begin, near, foundation, line, meet, shape, letter, frame, ceiling, open, rafters, bennati, house, lake, arrowhead, california, rudolph, schindler. An A frame building is an architectural style 1 of building that features steeply angled sides roofline that usually begin at or near the foundation line and meet at the top in the shape of the letter A An A frame ceiling can be open to the top rafters The Bennati House in Lake Arrowhead California Rudolph Schindler s original A frame design 1934 An example of an A frame house in Gillette Wyoming Traditional A frame thatched house palheiro Santana Madeira Portugal An A frame house owned and restored by Nicky Panicci in the Hollywood Hills an example of an architectural A frame A historic photograph of an A frame sod roof house in the Netherlands Image Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands 20309407 RCE Although the triangle shape of the A frame has been present throughout history it surged in popularity around the world from roughly the mid 1950s through the 1970s It was during the post World War II era that the A frame acquired its most defining characteristics Contents 1 Style 2 Rise in popularity 3 Example 3 1 Residential examples 3 2 Religious examples 3 3 Commercial examples 4 Educational examples 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksStyle editA frame buildings are an ancient form in Europe e g cruck frame construction or grubenhaus China and the South Pacific islands Sometimes called a roof hut these were simple structures used for utilitarian purposes until the 1950s 2 In 1934 R M Schindler built the first modern A frame house for owner Gisela Bennati in Lake Arrowhead California 3 Architects Walter Reemelin John Campbell George Rockrise Henrik H Bull and Andrew Geller helped to popularize Schindler s idea in the early 1950s designing A frame vacation homes 2 In 1955 Andrew Geller built an A frame house on the beach in Long Island New York known as the Elizabeth Reese House 2 Geller s design won international attention when it was featured in The New York Times on May 5 1957 4 Before long thousands of A frame homes were being built around the world 5 The Abbey Resort in Fontana on Geneva Lake Wisconsin claims to have the world s tallest wooden A frame Rise in popularity editThe post World War II popularity of the A frame has been attributed to a combination of factors including Americans extra disposable income the inexpensiveness of building an A frame structure and a new interest in acquiring a second home for vacationing 2 Another factor contributing to the rise of the A frame included the adaptability of the structure itself which enabled architects to experiment with more modern designs A frames were a useful medium in which architects could explore their creative side since they were relatively cheap to build Additionally many people preferred the idea of a modern style vacation home to that of a modern style primary home A frames became available as prefabricated kits lowering the cost even more and were sold by Macy s department stores After the rise of the archetypal A frame architects soon began experimenting with new designs which led to what became known as the modified A frame style Example editResidential examples edit Bennati House 1934 Lake Arrowhead California designed by Rudolph Schindler Elizabeth Reese House Sagoponack New York designed by Andrew Geller Numerous examples in Washington state 6 Numerous examples including historic kits and recent Yosemite adjacent ones in Curbed 7 12 A frame houses in Northcrest Historic District Atlanta Georgia 8 Ranger cabin Oregon in Zig zag Ranger District 9 Park City Utah ski houses 10 Religious examples edit A frame buildings which had been made popular since 1955 by Andrew Geller were built for churches across the world The modern shape was reinterpreted spiritually as representing hands at prayer since 1961 and the design of the Holy Cross Anglican Church in Tokyo by the Czech born American architect Antonin Raymond His use of interlaced pillars was inspired by the traditional Japanese traditional country minka houses known as gasshō zukuri 合掌造り literally clasped hands style 11 Early examples of A frame religious buildings are the Frank Lloyd Wright designed First Unitarian Society of Madison built 1949 1951 as well as the Lutheran Church of the Atonement designed by Harris Armstrong and built in 1949 in Florissant Missouri 12 Charles E Stade designed dozens of A frame church buildings in the United States throughout the 1950s and 1960s 13 along with Edward D Dart and Edward Sovik 14 The style was in 1960 used by the Catholic Church to build Saint Joseph Church Lynden Washington 6 just before the Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in 1961 It was used most impressively for the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel inaugurated in 1962 nbsp One of the earliest English A shape churches the Yaddlethorpe Methodist Church built in 1967 At the same time the A frame used was in Europe as early 1959 for Bakkehaugen Church in Norway by architect Ove Bang who was an advocate of functionalism When the Arctic Cathedral in 1965 the A frame church had become a new identity of religious architecture in Scandinavia It spread to Europe and was used in 1967 to build the Yaddlethorpe Methodist Church in Yaddlethorpe The A shape religious building made it across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand with the Whiteley Memorial Methodist Church dedicated on 19 October 1963 considered as Taranaki s most beautiful building 15 Christian religious buildings have also adopted the A style architecture mainly in South East Asia The first example after Japan might be the Luce Memorial Chapel in Taiwan in 1963 followed by Saint Michael s Church in Sihanoukville in 1965 Xavier Hall Catholic Church in Bangkok in 1972 or the Church of the Pastoral Center in Da Lat in 2010 are some examples of a similar architectural style This style is still popular in Europe also as in Henry s Ecumenical Art Chapel in Finland in 2005 16 Commercial examples edit nbsp A frame roof Wienerschnitzel restaurant in Whittier California Numerous older Wienerschnitzel stores are A frames Whataburger stores IHOP restaurants Tastee Freez stores Nickerson Farms stores e g see File Abandoned Nickerson Farms Picacho AZ jpg Travelers Rest Motel near Everett Pennsylvania 17 Dick Lewis Pontiac Cadillac 1964 Olympia Washington 6 The main building of Florida s Disney s Contemporary Resort in which the Walt Disney World monorail has a station Lake Easton Resort c 1963 Easton Washington 6 Tiki Lodge c 1964 Spokane Washington 6 Educational examples editWakefield Country Day School Flint Hill VirginiaSee also editMinka Vernacular architecture nbsp Housing portalReferences edit A frame Oxford English Dictionary 2nd ed on CD ROM v 4 0 Oxford University Press 2009 a b c d Randl Chad A frame New York Princeton Architectural Press 2004 Print The R M Schindler List Archived from the original on 2016 09 26 Retrieved 2017 12 19 Fred A Bernstein Andrew Geller 87 Modernist Architect Dies New York Times December 27 2011 Archived March 20 2017 at the Wayback Machine accessed 1 26 2014 Starting A Roofing Business Archived from the original on 2021 04 29 Retrieved 2021 04 29 Thursday 29 April 2021 a b c d e A frame 1950 1990 Washington State Examples 8 July 2014 Archived from the original on 14 October 2019 Retrieved October 14 2019 Alexandra Lange September 22 2017 The A frame effect Not just another house but a way of life Archived from the original on October 14 2019 Retrieved October 14 2019 Northcrest Historic District Listed in National Register of Historic Places May 5 2017 Archived from the original on August 14 2020 Retrieved October 15 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link document permanent dead link Agenda Park City Municipal Corporation October 16 2013 Archived from the original on 2021 04 16 Retrieved 2019 10 15 Tokyo Sei Juji Kyokai Holy Cross Church Tokyo Nippon Sei Ko Kai Anglican Episcopal Church in Japan Retrieved 20 August 2022 Mid Century Modern Church Survey Religious Structures 1940 1970 in St Louis County PDF Missouri State Parks Retrieved 31 August 2023 Charles E Stade A Chicago Sojourn Retrieved 31 August 2023 The Quietly Dangerous Suburban Church The New Republic Retrieved 31 August 2023 Palmert Harriet 2009 08 26 Taranaki s most beautiful building Stuff Retrieved 2022 08 20 St Henry s Ecumenical Art Chapel by Sanaksenaho Architcets Architizer 2016 02 28 Retrieved 2022 08 20 Travelers Rest Motel SAH Archipedia 17 July 2018 Archived from the original on 17 October 2019 Retrieved 14 October 2019 Bibliography editRandl Chad 2004 A frame Princeton Architectural Press ISBN 978 1 56898 410 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to A frame buildings A frame Style Archived 2007 01 04 at the Wayback Machine from Picture Dictionary of House Styles in North America and Beyond on About com by Jackie Craven A frame Home An A frame home in the Hollywood Hills owned and restored by Nicky Panicci A frame House Website archive about an a frame house located in Phoenix AZ Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A frame building amp oldid 1222260923, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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