Caroline Tahany

Abstract:

This project explores the evolution of American home architecture, design, and experience since the pre-World War II era. It traces how the Great Depression stagnated the housing industry, leading to a severe housing crisis. In response, public initiatives like the New York City Housing Authority were established to provide affordable housing, a trend that expanded across New York State. World War II further transformed the housing landscape with an influx of defense workers, federal funding, and the G.I. Bill, which stimulated a post-war housing boom. Real estate developers, including figures like William Levitt, pioneered mass production techniques for suburban homes, creating iconic communities like Levittown, NY. However, racial segregation and discriminatory practices in housing finance excluded Black, Latino, and Asian Americans from these benefits. By the 1950s, new home designs featured open floor plans, family rooms, and outdoor recreation spaces, reshaping how families lived. Despite the post-war housing boom, contemporary issues such as rising costs and decreasing affordability have resurfaced. The project highlights how these housing developments over the last century have continually shaped, and been shaped by, American society and family life.