The Evolution of the Bryn Mawr Suburb 1880-1970
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Transcript of The Evolution of the Bryn Mawr Suburb 1880-1970
The Evolution of the Bryn Mawr Suburb
1880-1970
Tamarinda FigueroaAlison Reingold
Charles WattamatusapotomosNeal Arakawa
We focused on three general areas around Bryn Mawr township, including a square of land developed around the 1950’s, a row of
identical freestanding houses built in the early 20th century, and a series of speculative row houses bordering Lancaster Avenue.
We also tracked the influence of older farm estates, including that of the Ashbridge, a home built in 1769.
Ashbridge Estate“Ashbridge Park was purchased by Welsh Quaker immigrant Rees Thomas after his arrival in America in 1683, on only the second boat of Welsh settlers to reach America. In 1769, his son and a grandson, Rees Thomas III, built the Georgian-style main house that graces the property today. “
The strong Georgian style is echoed in various modern homes within its midst, but does not exist as the only influence.
Modern Homes, circa 1950
Many of the suburban homes have Georgian
revival architecture, using symmetrical bays on the
front, paned white windows and grand
entranceways.This home has a entrance porch
nearly identical to the entrance to
Ashbridge.
This home (above) uses stone in a
manner similar to Harriton and
Ashbridge, but deviates in its asymmetrical front, which
reveals its hall parlor plan.
Newer StylesIn a few examples, we saw
evidence of timber framing, or half-timber construction, which, for medieval German homes, provided
a visible skeletal frame that supported the whole building. In its
modern form, the designer uses the visual of timber framing in a purely decorative manner, using bricks as filling instead of plaster.
Modern brick production allows for a uniformity of
size and color that enables designers to use
bricks in ornate, geometric ways.
Free Standing HomesAs you move closer to
Montgomery Avenue, we noticed, based on conversations with
friendly homeowners, that the age of the
houses increased. These rows, built around 1900, were originally composed
of a wooden exterior built upon a stone
foundation.
Speculative Row HousesBuilt between Lancaster and Montgomery
Avenues, these speculative row houses existed within close proximity to the commercial areas
of Bryn Mawr township.
The residents claim that these
homes were constructed
around the early 1900s, as were
the free standing homes a mere block away.
Sources
• http://www.lmconservancy.org/?d=19557957.8885, 2006 Lower Merion Conservancy