Wichita, Kansas - a 1955 home winner of the Wichita Home Builders' Competition | architects: Uel C. Ramey and Harold W. Himes | builder: Wichita Association of Home Builders

7/25/2025 11:18:00 AM

This architect-designed, ready-built house has many lessons to teach any prospective homeowner. Its ingenious floor plan is divided into two zones, with kitchen-family room as the hub of all activities, and living-dining room located so it can easily be kept in order at all times. Each of these rooms is linked to the outdoors by a glass window-wall, and each has its own terrace; privacy is assured by attractive landscaping and fencing. Throughout the house are exciting new ideas and push-button comforts, including year-round air conditioning which it is said can be operated for only about $188 per year. The fine kitchen sets a high standard.

Here is a good lesson in how outdoor space can increase living space in a small house. This 24' south wall is floor-to-ceiling glass. It enlarges the living room visually and makes the terrace seem part of it. Occupants get the benefit of sunlight. A 2'8" roof overhang shades it from the hot, low summer sun while admitting solar heat in winter. The end wall is a solid background for furniture arrangement and also a barrier against the western sun, but its high gable windows admit light and carry the eye outdoors. Brick fireplace wall is to the right, and the dining area, left foreground, is opposite the kitchen.

The kitchen-family room is strategically located in the heart of the house, planned for all family activities. It opens to garage, children's rear terrace, and bedroom hall, as well as to dining end of living room; but kitchen side cannot be seen from living room. It is a place for the family to gather, for hobbies, for children to play under mother's supervision, for cooking, sewing, washing, ironing. For all practical purposes, it functions as one big room, divided only by sink counter- snack bar which forms a center "island."