When did houses start to go Tiki? How common were they? - General Tiki

STCB Sabu The Coconut Boy Tiki Socialite Carson, California Joined: Aug 20, 2002 Posts: 2813	STCB Sabu The Coconut Boy Posted posted on Tue, Nov 18, 2003 12:55 PM Every so often, in my garage-sale expeditions, I'll come across a house from the 1950s or 1960s that has clear Polynesian influences to its architecture. I'm not talking so much about whole housing developments that had a Tiki theme, of which I know several, or the faux-Japanese architecture of many houses in the 1950s, (The neighborhood of Lomita has whole blocks of them). I'm talking about Polynesian-influenced houses that were built solo, that are just different enough from the other 50's Ranch-style houses surrounding them - like this one I spotted in Harbor City on Saturday: Besides making me wish I could buy this house and hange a huge globe lamp from the A-frame and stake some large tikis on either side of the front door, this house raises the following questions for me: When did architects start building these? Was it after tiki restaurants, bowling alleys and apartments? Or somewhere in that timeline? Why are they so much rarer than tiki apartments? Was there no market for them? Are they more common in other areas? I've only found a few here in the South Bay. Or have they all been torn down? Any insights would be appreciated. Sabu

Every so often, in my garage-sale expeditions, I'll come across a house from the 1950s or 1960s that has clear Polynesian influences to its architecture. I'm not talking so much about whole housing developments that had a Tiki theme, of which I know several, or the faux-Japanese architecture of many houses in the 1950s, (The neighborhood of Lomita has whole blocks of them). I'm talking about Polynesian-influenced houses that were built solo, that are just different enough from the other 50's Ranch-style houses surrounding them - like this one I spotted in Harbor City on Saturday:

Besides making me wish I could buy this house and hange a huge globe lamp from the A-frame and stake some large tikis on either side of the front door, this house raises the following questions for me:

When did architects start building these? Was it after tiki restaurants, bowling alleys and apartments? Or somewhere in that timeline?

Why are they so much rarer than tiki apartments? Was there no market for them?

Are they more common in other areas? I've only found a few here in the South Bay. Or have they all been torn down?

Any insights would be appreciated.

Sabu

Post #60608 by Sabu The Coconut Boy on Tue, Nov 18, 2003 12:55 PM