The British Raj began to control India in 1858. While in India, members of this governance would often stay in banglas, which were simply single-family homes in Bengal. Members of the government grew quite fond of these houses and brought the style with them when they would retire and return to the United Kingdom. Soon, the term "bungalow" began to be used to describe this new type of housing for the British.
In India, the bangla often had more than one story. When the British adopted the style, they created houses that had only one story, though some had an additional half-story. These are the bungalows you will find throughout America today. The most prominent features of Bungalow-style homes are their verandahs or porches, which often have square, masonry pedestals supporting a low-pitched roof. The roof is often side-gabled, with a central dormer.
The Bungalow was quite popular in America during the early part of the twentieth century. Originally, the bungalow was used as a practical home for the elderly. With its popularization in America, many new styles of architecture emerged. These styles are still known as bungalows, but have their own features which distinguish them from others. Some examples of architectural styles that have branched off from the Bungalow are the Cape Cod, the Craftsman, and the High Ranch.
Bungalows can be found all over Staten Island. This also goes for most of the secondary architectural styles created from the original Bungalow style. Many bungalows can be found in neighborhood of Staten Island along the South Shore-mainly close to the shoreline. In fact, an entire bungalow community, the Cedar Grove Beach Bungalows, once existed along Cedar Grove Beach in the South Shore community known as New Dorp Beach. Many bungalows still remain in the community, though they are not directly on the beachfront.
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