A celebration of the last 100 years of our homes
What has lockdown done for your relationship with your home in Burton or Derby? You may have rediscovered your property and fallen in love with it and what it offers you as a family, or a couple of grumbles may have you heading to the door.
One thing we know at Sure Sales and Lettings is that our homes have become more important than before, and as we travel around Burton and Derby it’s clear we have a lot to offer. British architecture has developed some beautiful designs, and with so many to choose from we thought we would celebrate the last 100 years.
Art Deco, 1920–1940
It’s hard to ignore Art Deco homes with their geometric glazed upper half of the doors, and curved window designs to flood the house with light. The architects were influenced by a number of sources but we know that the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 increased the desire for ancient Egyptian decoration. Architects were known to be experimenting with new forms and materials, such as concrete and steel.
1930s semis, 1918–1939
These homes were a result of the economic needs of the time, and built on land alongside new transport links in rural areas, as land was cheaper there than in the city. At this time, towns in the countryside saw construction of new tram lines, railways and even the underground, thus making more cities accessible. These semi-detached houses are still popular homes today, with their curved bay windows and hipped roofs, which make them distinctive and define the period. You can still see elements of the Arts & Crafts style from the early 1900s, with mock timber frames around the gables and of course pebble-dashed walls.
1940s
When the Second World War ended, there was a desperate need to rebuild thousands of houses and also a desire to ensure that what was created would provide housing that would be ‘fit for all’. As we have all learned from this pandemic, when there is a crisis it can be extremely difficult to get hold of materials, and they struggled for skilled labour too. Consequently, mass-produced and system-built homes were designed, as they could be created in factories and were very quick to erect when they arrived on site.
Sir Edwin Airey designed one such system, which used columns of concrete reinforced with metal tubing. Because they were easy to transport, they became popular in rural areas.
By the 1950s the supply and availability of building materials had returned, though because they were cheaper, prefab houses remained. But a new generation were wanting to make their mark and wish to embrace modern developments rather than holding on to the past. Remember this was the Space age and homes were full of colour and open-plan living was popular.
1970s terrace
In the 1970s people appreciated style and design, their interiors were full of the patterns and colours that define the era. Modern homes with modern appliances were what buyers were seeking. Unlike past decades where homes had a little homage to the past, 1970s homes were of their time. Windows were typically large and some homes were decorated with hanging tiles and had shallow pitched roofs and coloured bathrooms.
New-builds, 1990s
In the 1990s people were wanting some traditional features again, and so new housing developments were designed to mimic buildings from the past, many included cottage features, mock timber framing and rendered walls, all of which were included to appeal to buyers. In this era, insulation was introduced, along with much improved safety standards. These estates resembled mini villages due to how the sites were laid out, and we still see the same today.
Today
More modernist architecture has seen a rise in popularity, and construction has considered more sustainable ways of living that take the environment into consideration. There is a big self-build movement as well as a firm desire to cherish those period properties and preserve them for future generations. With the new green light to cut the red tape on housing development, announced recently, we will see what impact this has on the homes that are built in the future.
Your home in Burton and Derby is just one small part of our area’s rich architectural history, regardless of when it was built. Next time you talk a walk, take a real look at the variety of homes that make our town what it is today.