Midtown Savannah Ga - Arts and Crafts

One of my favorite home-styles is the American version of the Arts and Craft movement which was popular for a while starting in the late 19^th century and has been periodically revived since its origination.

You see this style throughout the Savannah midtown area, especially in Ardsley Park. According to my readings, the movement was a reaction to the Victorian age class structure, and some say a reaction to the Industrial Age tendency to mass produce.

These homes, to me, reveal a natural earthiness that is appealing. The growing needs of a strengthening middleclass going into the 20^th century seems to have been a major influence – a creative compromise between the upper-class Victorian and the tendency to mass produce.

Attention was paid to craftsmanship to give character to homes, and space was used to meet the needs of families who were using their homes more functionally for family activities – breakfast nooks, fireplaces being the heart of the home, built in shelves for books, photos, and an overall home-sweet-home feel – simple and elegant.

I get the sense when I look at these homes that pride of ownership was alive and well and a house was a home, a place to retreat, a place to escape what was then seen as a de-humanizing process of industrialization and too-sharp class distinction.

The human spirit is amazing in its continuing ability to break out of sterilization, division and same old -same old, to create something original and give dignity to life. Now we have the options of all styles imaginable, but the Arts and Craft style is still one of my favorites. I hope it continues to be revived with improvements and modern touches.

Later,

Mike from Savannah