1933 Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition

The 1933 Chicago World's Fair boasted a Century of Progress celebrating man's innovations in architecture, science, technology and transportation. One of the most noteworthy exhibits was the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition that showcased man's modern innovations in architecture, design, and building materials.

In addition to several unique art deco and contemporary designs for a dozen model homes, futuristic home furnishings and accoutrements such as a personal helicopter pad were anticipated. Several architects and firms used the model homes to demonstrate their techniques for the pre-fabricated home and new materials. Baked enamel and rostone—a man-made type of masonry that could be molded into specific shapes and produced in various colors—were hailed as affordable and durable home construction options.

The following homes were showcased in the exhibit which ran the duration of the fair:

• • Weibolt-Rostone House, Walter Schuler, Architect
  • Good Housekeeping Stran-Steel House, O'Dell & Wirt C. Rowland, Architects
  • House of Tomorrow, George Fred Keck, Architect
  • Masonite House: Frazier & Raftery, Architects

    

    Flier from the Good Housekeeping Stran-Steel Home tour

  • Armco Ferro Enamel Frameless Steel House, Robert Smith, Jr. Architect
  • House for Brick Manufacturers Association of America: Andrew N. Rebori, Architect
  • Florida Tropical House, Robert Law Weed, Architect
  • American Forest Products & Lumber Industries House: Ernest A. Grunsfeld, Jr. Architect
  • General House, Inc., Howard T. Fisher, Architect
  • Design for Living Home, John C.B. Moore and Horsley & Wood, Architects
  • Cypress Log Cabin
  • Universal Houses' Country Home.

After the exposition ended in 1936, several of the homes were put on barges and moved across the lakes to Indiana and Illinois. A few were moved to Chicago suburbs while five were placed at Beverly Shores to help spark development in the late 30's. The development never happened; however, the Indiana park service maintained the homes after the original occupants moved. Five of the original homes have survived the last 70 years on the shores of Lake Michigan and are being restored by individual owners. As visitors passed through the homes during the fair, many bought plans and erected the designs in other states.

References

• • Century of Progress Anticipates Homes of Tomorrow. American Home, 10:18-19, June 1933.
  • Chicago and Tomorrow's House? Pencil Points, 14:245-251, June 1933.
  • Exhibits at Century of Progress Exhibition: Houses Constructed for the Home and Industrial Arts Exhibit (Floor Plans).
  • Architectural Record, 73: supplement, May 1933.
  • Extrenal Link: http://users.marshall.edu/~brooks/1933_Chicago_World_Fair.htm