Ugly House Photos

Design Through the Decades - Part 3

In 1960, the population of Phoenix had quadrupled since 1950 to 439,170 and went from the 99th largest US city in 1950 to the 29th largest city.  To see historical photos of Phoenix from the 1960s, click here.

The Phoenix area did see an explosion of growth and new homes in the 1960s particularly to the west of 27th Ave, to the north of Shea Boulevard, and to the east of 32nd Street.  Concrete block and brick were the preferred materials for building exterior walls.  The ranch style prevailed with a few exceptions.  Let’s take a look.

Built in 1960 with one-car carport.  Not much change in architecture from the 1950s.

Built in 1961.  Two-car garages were just beginning to emerge as a new luxury feature.  Also, it was becoming popular for the lower half of the exterior wall to be brick or concrete block, then wood siding (over concrete block) for the upper half.

Built in 1962 with a more modern look.

Built in 1968.

Big front yards were common in the “rich” areas of town.

Built in 1969, we’re starting to see some personality (subject to opinion).  And the emergence of flat roofs.

Also built in 1969 with fancy arches in front.

Another home built in 1969.  Slump block is beginning to be used for exterior walls.

The start of two-story homes in Phoenix, which becomes the norm in the 1990s and 2000s.  The difference with the 1960s is that these homes were placed on larger lots (10,000+ square foot lots vs <6,000 square foot lots in the 1990s & 2000s).

When home builders could actually dig into the hard Phoenix soil, tri-level homes appeared.  Tri-level homes are few and far between in Phoenix.

Another tri-level home built in 1968 with a Mediterranean feel with arched windows and flat rooflines.

As mentioned in the post about 1950s homes, architect Ralph Haver continued to design Phoenix homes in the 1960s.  Here’s one from 1966.

And another Ralph Haver-like home from the 1960s.