The type of house that I will focus on in this post is a bungalow built with the basement raised halfway out of the ground. There are various names for this design depending on the location. In Ottawa it is called the high ranch, but in other regions it may be called a raised bungalow, raised ranch, bi-level, split foyer or split entry. In certain areas, the house style is ubiquitous, such as in Wasaga Beach, where my parents live, it is the most common house type.
In Ottawa high ranch houses were most popular during the mid-20th century, but newer versions continue to be built, albeit less frequently. In this post, my focus will look at this housing type when it first came to prominence in the 1960s. At the time, there were two main types of these layouts that I have classified as the "2 Up - 2 Down" and the "3 Up", referring to the location and number of bedrooms. There are also more unique versions that will be highlighted at the end of this post.
The 2 Up - 2 Down is named as such as these layouts have 2 bedrooms on the main (upper) level and 2 on the lower level. Typically, the front entry is in the centre of the house with the door located on a level between the main and lower floors. In most cases the living room is at the front with the kitchen and dining room at the back. The bedrooms and bathroom are then located on the opposite side of the house. Sometimes a one-car garage is tucked under the main level, with two other bedrooms, a bathroom and laundry/utility room. If room allows, a recreation room may also be on this level. The result is a compact rectangular footprint with the wide side facing the road.
Instead of a garage on the lower level, the S-64 has space for a recreation room, something the other plans to not have room for.
The Cedar plan by Costain, c. 1969, has bedrooms that are bumped out on the one side of the house.
The Saguenay/Seville plans are similar to the Campeau Fairmont with a front and back staircase, yet with a 1-car garage.
The Canterbury/Marlborough is a large version of the 3 Up plan with 5 bedrooms total and a 2-car garage tucked under, with a balcony above. The design also has an unusual ensuite bathroom off the master bedroom, with second door to a 2-piece main bathroom.
This Campeau plan, C. 1974, has the fireplace located next to the staircase, something that was seen in a few earlier designs by Minto.
The Marquis, c. 1976, by Campeau/Macval has the two-car garage to the side, freeing up more space on the lower level.
The Martin, c. 1976, is one of the few high ranch designs with a full ensuite bathroom on the main level. The 2-car garage takes up much of the lower level.
This Campeau plan, c. 1964, has the kitchen and dining room at the front of the house, allowing for a sprawling living room across the back.
Campeau's Castile design, c. 1972-73, is a narrow version of the high ranch with the bedrooms at the back and the living spaces at the front. Some versions have a dining room on the main level, while others have a 3rd bedroom instead.
In Ottawa high ranch houses were most popular during the mid-20th century, but newer versions continue to be built, albeit less frequently. In this post, my focus will look at this housing type when it first came to prominence in the 1960s. At the time, there were two main types of these layouts that I have classified as the "2 Up - 2 Down" and the "3 Up", referring to the location and number of bedrooms. There are also more unique versions that will be highlighted at the end of this post.
The 2 Up - 2 Down is named as such as these layouts have 2 bedrooms on the main (upper) level and 2 on the lower level. Typically, the front entry is in the centre of the house with the door located on a level between the main and lower floors. In most cases the living room is at the front with the kitchen and dining room at the back. The bedrooms and bathroom are then located on the opposite side of the house. Sometimes a one-car garage is tucked under the main level, with two other bedrooms, a bathroom and laundry/utility room. If room allows, a recreation room may also be on this level. The result is a compact rectangular footprint with the wide side facing the road.
Campeau was by far the most prolific builder of high ranch designs in Ottawa during the 1960s. In 1962, the S60/S61 high ranch plan was one of Campeau's best sellers. It is a quintessential example of the 2 Up - 2 Down layout. Below are various versions of the plan.
The S-110 series, c. 1964, is similar to the S-64, but with the bedrooms on the lower level oriented front to back, directly under the upper level bedrooms.
Above is one of Minto's rare early high ranch designs from 1965. While Campeau's designs had an open concept living and dining room, Minto's version has an enclosed dining room.
A.B.Taylor's 2 Up - 2 Down plan in Glen Cairn, c. 1963, has the garage located at the side of the house.
The 3 Up plan has 3 bedrooms on the main level. Otherwise, the layout is very similar to the 2 Up - 2 Down plan. Depending on the variation, there may be 1 or 2 bedrooms on the lower level, and almost always there is a recreation room.
Below are Campeau's series of 3 Up plans, c. 1962:
The Hampshire, c. 1963-65, is an unusual take on the standard layout in that the kitchen and dining room are reversed, with the kitchen behind the living room. Below is another version of the plan:
The Fairmont, c. 1965-66, is unique with a front stairway that only has access to the main level and then a second back stairway with access to the lower level and back yard. Also notable about this design is the 2-car garage and the fireplace on the front wall.
The Avonlea, c. 1977, is nearly identical to the KS120F/KS121F plan in Katimavik, show above.
Below are some unique takes on the high ranch design.
The Assaly Trend Home plans above and below are unique in that they both only have one bedroom on the upper/main level, with the remainder of the bedrooms on the lower level.
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