This post is part of a monthly series that explores the historical applications of building materials and systems through resources from the Building Technology Heritage Library (BTHL), an online collection of AEC catalogs, brochures, trade publications, and more. The BTHL is a project of the Association for Preservation Technology, an international building preservation organization
The stay-at-home orders and periods of quarantinehave given millions of Americans time to clean and purge their apartments and houses. But where to put treasured, but infrequently used possessions? TheBTHL offers a look back at one possible solution from the past: eclectic, architectural storage.
The storage story has several ancestors, the most obvious being the wardrobe and the chest of drawers. The simple bedroom closet, which first appears in house plans during the 19th century, is another point of origin, but it was by no means universal. Early clothes closet employed pegs instead of hangers, as the modern hanger didn’t gain popularity until the early 20th century. At this time, a selection of built-in architectural storage solutions arrived for both residential and commercial uses. The first built-ins were primarily wooden casework integrated into the residential floor plan for various household storage functions, such as the popular dining room china cabinet. Built-in cabinets for ironing boards and telephones were two specialty cabinets, as was the medicine cabinet for the bathroom. In retail interiors, shelving fulfilled both display and storage needs.
As the ranch house gained popularity after World War II, the bedroom closet we know today became a standard feature of residential design. This era also produced a number of new built-in storage solutions for family recreation and outdoor activities: closets in rec rooms for games and toys, and the carport or garage for lawn mowers and sports equipment. Even the sliding door evolved to make indoor storage space more efficient.
Regardless of what you call it—a shelf, a closet, a cabinet or a drawer—the need for and design of household storage are yet another part of architectural history.
Bertelsen Built-In Furniture Features, Bertelsen Adjustable Grill Co., Chicago, circa 1910
This catalog, one of the earliest featuring “built-in” furniture in the BTHL, focuses on china cabinets, but also contains examples of ironing board cabinets and medicine cabinets. Bookcases integrated with room dividers is another noteworthy feature in this product line.
Built the Beauty In, Wm. Cameron & Co., Waco, Texas, circa 1920
The use of built-in furniture was an architectural transition from the free-standing piece of furniture to a fixed storage space integrated with a room. The Cameron Co. offered a wide variety of built-in products for the home.
The Shelving with Brains, W.C. Heller & Co., Montpelier, Ohio, 1922
The combination of display shelves and extra storage for retail stores was the specialty product of the W.C. Heller Co. This wooden casework could stretch to the ceiling when paired with a rolling ladder included.
"Edge-Lite"Bathroom Cabinets, Henkel Edge-Lite Corp., Chicago, circa 1930
The medicine cabinet is another storage specialty that evolved with the indoor bathroom. Wooden versions appeared in the early 20th century, but the iconic medicine cabinet, featuring white enamel and stainless steel materials, appeared in the 1930s.
Regiment Closet Space, Knape & Vogt Mfg. Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., circa 1940
“Bring clothes closets to order! Organize them!” K-Venience closet fixtures included specialized hangers for clothes, hats, shoes, and ties that would help maximize closet efficiency.
Mengel: Wall Closets, Closet Fronts, Sliding Doors, Mengel Co., Louisville, Ky., 1955
“Modern home designers know that Mengel sliding door closet units save space, make rooms larger because they require no swinging door space, and provide complete utilization of closet space.”
Thessco Built-In Classroom Wardrobes, School Supply Co., Kansas City, Miss., circa 1960
Storage closets for schools also surfaced as a special storage need. The Thessco system was designed for classrooms, incorporating coat storage as well as classroom supplies.
Create Useful New Indoor Storage, Western Pine Association, Portland, Ore., circa 1960
“Lack of proper storage is a common problem in this era of expanding families and growing leisure time,” reads the opening statement for this catalog of storage ideas, which includes sections on shelves, cabinets, drawers, doors, partitions, racks, and finishing.
Carport and Storage Ideas, Weyerhaeuser Co., St. Paul, Minn., circa 1960
The carport as an outdoor space for automobiles served as a storage option for outdoor household items such as lawn mowers, garden supplies, sports equipment, and barbecue supplies.
Omni: the Universal Space-Maker System, Structural Products, Charlotte, Mich., 1960
The Omni System deployed a system of vertical metal channels and shelf brackets, cabinets, and lighting to create open display shelving and closet storage.
