Architect Breaks Down 5 TV Houses from Mad Men, That '70s Show & More | Architectural Digest

TL;DR

Suburban architecture in TV shows like Mad Men, The Brady Bunch, Weeds, and Modern Family showcases different design styles and reflects the evolving American Dream.

Transcript

hi i'm michael white stirrer i've been an architect for 33 years today we're gonna see what some of our favorite TV shows can teach us about suburban architecture and design Don Draper's home in Mad Men the Draper house is a great place to start it represents some of the earliest suburbs which we'll call bedroom communities there was no other indus... Read More

Key Insights

• 🛀 Suburban architecture in popular TV shows reflects different historical periods and design styles.
• 😪 Elements like red doors, shutters, and colonial designs are common in early suburban architecture.
• 🛀 Shows like The Brady Bunch connect suburban homes to Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture and emphasize bringing nature into the design.
• 👾 Basements in suburban houses served various purposes, from recreational spaces to storage areas.
• 🖤 Mass-produced suburban homes in shows like Weeds highlight the dark side of conformity and lack of environmental sustainability.
• 😎 Modernist designs, like Jane Glorious' house in Modern Family, blend simplicity with functionality and feature elements like sun shades and wood finishes.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some key characteristics of Don Draper's house in Mad Men?

Don Draper's house features a two-story colonial design with a red door, six over six double-hung windows, and a portico. It represents early suburban architecture in the 1910s or 1920s.

Q: How does The Brady Bunch house reflect Frank Lloyd Wright's style?

The Brady Bunch house incorporates elements from Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie style, such as stone exteriors that blend with the earth, exposed roof rafters, and Japanese-inspired design details.

Q: Why does the basement play a significant role in That '70s Show?

The basement in That '70s Show serves as a private and recreational space, where the characters engage in activities like smoking, drinking, and socializing. It represents the typical suburban basement of the era.

Q: What is the significance of the town of Agrestic in Weeds?

Agrestic represents post-World War II mass-produced suburban homes, similar to those in Levittown. It showcases conformity and the pressure to keep up with the Joneses.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Don Draper's house in Mad Men represents early suburban architecture with a traditional colonial design and classic elements such as a red door and shutters.

• The Brady Bunch house showcases Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture with stone exteriors and exposed roof rafters.

• The Foreman house in That '70s Show displays typical suburban basement design, while emphasizing the importance of the basement as a private space.

• The town of Agrestic in Weeds reflects the conformity and mass-produced nature of post-World War II suburban homes like Levittown.

• Jane Glorious' house in Modern Family combines modernist design with elements like sun shades and wood finishes.