Detached or free-standing dwelling, usually of one storey and frequently having a verandah; in southern Asia and Africa it denotes a detached dwelling of modern design, not necessarily of one storey. The bungalow functions as a permanent suburban and country home, as a vacation home and as a building type associated with the elderly and retired. Originally a form of dwelling native to Bengal, the bungalow was adapted by the British during their imperial rule over India and transplanted to Britain in the late 19th century. It subsequently became part of the suburban vernacular of the British Isles, North America, Australasia and other areas of the world influenced by British colonialism. To a lesser extent it has also been adopted in Europe and elsewhere.
Bangla was a Hindi or Mahratti term meaning ‘of or belonging to Bengal’ used in the 17th century to describe the type of dwelling-hut built by Bengal peasants. Its distinguishing features were the raised plinth and roof structure made from two bent bamboo poles, which, when thatched, resulted in two sloping sides forming the segment of a circle and resembling an overturned boat. The first known reference in English to such dwellings dates from 1659, but this form clearly has a longer history. Europeans in ...
