Universal Architectural Styles every Architect should know
Throughout the ages, people have dwelled in various types of homes and residences. With different strategies in mind, individuals from all over the world also made various conceptions and some even reinvented what we used to call "Our Home";
They added arts and geometrical rules, or what they named architectural styles, while others settle for just ensuring a safe lodging for themselves and their families.
But first of all, it is good to note that all the styles discussed in this post are related exclusively to the American Architectural Style in general, because of the diversity and variety of its styles, from the old period until actual days. Also to its multiple sources and origins, notably European and Asian countries, which enriched and popularized the American Homes Styles than others, worldwide. For more useful references about other architectural styles, plesea go to How Architectural Styles Affected the History of Humanity?
So let’s find out which are the most styles utilized for homes and demanded out there from both the sellers and buyers– and to be exact, from the real estate agencies– as well.
World Home Architectural Styles in History
Looking back in history: the popularity of the old world styles came at the top of the list. Remarkably, the English, French, Tuscan, and Spanish homes with traditional architectural construction materials are the starting point for all the modern styles of what we consider to be the private housing sector.Note: We should not be compromised hereby with the other housing types such as the condo or condominium residential and complexes that own their originality to the global Industrial Revolution and its need for solving the overpopulation problem as a consequence of it.
Made generally of stone or stucco walls, tiling roofs, iron fixtures, heavy wooden beams, and rustic floors are mainly the traditional materials that categorize them and make them very much in demand today as a recall for the old traditional architecture style.
A characteristic that was in use even before the effervescence of Green Architecture calls for a return to natural resources for a better environment. Also, it makes a sense of historic connection or relativity for a previous period that is very appreciated by the buyers of today and adds some fairy sense to their deal.
A Big Variation in Home Architectural Styles
Good to note and as previously mentioned: All the samples and models that I’ve been discussing in this article concerning the world home styles mainly concern the American Houses style and related art in general, and especially the Private Residences which are considered to have their global dominance in this industry.Each prototype will be featured in a presentation and explicative image(s) for more assimilation of the related architectural element. (*) The listing isn’t sorted under any specific categorization. Items are randomly chosen.
1. The Craftsman
Fig.1- The neighborhood, featuring the Craftsman full porch, brick walk, style- Image Source: pinterest.com |
Fig.2- Classic, Craftsman large porch balcony, Photo: pinterest.com |
Home plans for bungalows often include columns and pedestals mainly made from natural stone, horizontal wood shingle siding, and a lower gable hanging over the porch. The Craftsman is mainly a style of character; which means that it reveals its identity instantly at first sight without labeling itself if we can say.
Additionally, the most commonly well-known characteristics of a Craftsman-style based house must include one or more of these:
- A covered front porch with a large veranda.
- Tapered pillars that support the roof are typically more robust and bigger at the bottom, becoming smaller and thinner at the top.
- Exposed crossbeam tails are the pillars that stick out of the house and can be seen under the eaves.
2. Farmhouses
Fig.4- Another charming Farmhouse Home Style, Classic typical, Photo Source: pinterest.com |
- Often have clapboard siding as wall cladding on the exterior (see fig.5)
- Usually features a wide porch veranda at the entrance of the house.
- Simple roof structure, often with gabled edges.
- Typically built on larger pieces of land.
- Composed of basic shapes to allow for expansion.
- Gable ends, soffits and porch columns can be simple or highly detailed with ornaments.
- Typically rectangular in floor layout shape.
- Right-angled (90-degree) outer walls and 45-degree roof pitches make them easy to combine and frame.
- Often accompanied by extension buildings, including barns and car garages.
3. The European
4. The Ranch and Split Levels
5. The Retro
Fig.9- Mediterranean Homes symbol of luxury and elegance, Photo Source: marcenariadosramos.com |
Fig.10- Super House Exterior Mediterranean Style, Patio Ideas, Photo Source: pinterest.com |
It is in the most demand lately due to its variation of volume used in the conception. Notably, the Spanish and Mediterranean Houses styles fall under this category that features the single-story plan layout.
6. The Cape Cod
Fig.11- Cape Cod Style house best design. We notice the steep roof at the top, Photo Source: cdn.jhmrad.com |
7. The Colonial
Fig.13- English Colonial Style, Photo Source: smalldesignsideas.com |
8. Queen Anne Victorian
Fig.14- A typical Victorian home style, Photo Source: hadarguibara.com |
Fig.15- An array of Anne Victorian Style in San Fransisco suburbs, Photo Source: Getty Images |
Fig.16- Another Anne Victorian Style, Photo Source: pinterest.com |
Book and References for the Victorian Architectural Styles
On the surface, the subject of the two pattern books reproduced here is architecture. In a deeper sense, the topic is social status. The house is a person's most important acquisition; it places him or her on the social scale, and it presents an image of his or her character in the world. In the 19th Century, it was taken for granted that the home reflected the personality of the owner.
The two volumes here reprinted had no text but they had three unusual features:
1- They were published in an imposing folio format while most pattern books were in the smaller quarto size.
2- They presented hundreds of exterior and interior details drawn to a usefully large scale. Most pattern books provided only ground plans and elevations of the whole house.
3- They included some designs for non-residential buildings. Most pattern books contained only houses.
These books are aimed at architects, experienced builders, and potential clients. Significantly, these books deal mainly with style and outward show - the social side of architecture. There are no avant-garde masterpieces; Bicknell and Comstock's books show the average standards of their times which makes them all the more valuable historical documents.
Buy It Now!
9. Prairie School
The Prairie School was inspired by the American landscape, and their goal became to capture the essence of the prairie within architecture. In so doing, they hoped to create homes and buildings that would become part of the landscape, perfectly complementing the natural space and not standing apart from it.
- Low, long lines.
- An indoor/outdoor approach.
- Rows of square windows.
- Little ornamentation; prairie school homes are simple and sleek.
- Overhanging eaves.
10. The Coastal
Last Thought
American Homes borrow styles from across the globe. But we must reveal that certain architectural styles, such as the Cape Cod, Coastal, and Ranch styles, were originally born in the U.S.Generally talking, foreign countries have always, and since a long time ago inspired others' styles. Beneath we have the European, the Mediterranean, and the Victorian (related to Queen Anne of England). Therefore and by following this theory, we must believe that America is a mixture of a melting pot of architectural styles. Which is good in the end, isn’t it?
By appreciating these stylistic differences, you can select the best home plans that best fit your family. Regardless of whether you will choose between the Craftsman home style plans or a more modern design, or just in-between, your place will be always what you will be calling: “Feeling Home”!
References in this article:
- www.study.com, Learn, Stay, Study. The Online Learning Site.- www.eng.wikipedia.org, The online encyclopedia.
Photos Source:
- www.pinterest.com- https://www.gettyimages.ae/, Getty Images: Royalty-Free Stock Photos, Illustrations, Vectors, Videos