Origin: United States, widespread from the mid-20th century.
The Ranch house is a single-storey home with a long, L-shaped or U-shaped plan, a low roof with wide eaves, popular in the United States from the mid-20th century. Rooms line up horizontally, with large glazing and sliding doors opening to the back yard. Forms are simple and lightly decorated, prioritising comfort and a link to the garden.
In Vietnam the Ranch suits generous suburban plots and families with older members. In Hai Phong a low house resists typhoon winds well because it presents little height to the gusts, but the floor must be raised above the yard to avoid flooding and damp. Wide eaves cut western sun, double walls or waterproof paint hold back moisture, and the rear porch becomes the main living space all year.
