How Architecture Adapts
Have you ever visited a city and realized that the buildings all follow a similar architectural style? There is often more of a reason behind this than a trend. The majority of architectural styles are linked to a specific historical time period. A closer look into the history of some popular architectural styles can provide a better insight into why key design elements were originally included.
The French colonial style of architecture was brought to the southeastern region of North America in the 1600s from French colonists. As there were no central hallways, parallel porches were placed on each floor creating double wrap-around porches to connect rooms and protect the home from heat or heavy rain. Rain also brought floods and humidity, therefore basements were raised as a precaution and ceilings were high and vaulted for better air circulation.
Floor plan of The Parlange Plantation House recreated by Arcdimension. Built in 1750, The Parlange Plantation House is one of the last examples of the French Colonial Style.
Exterior view of the Parlange Plantation with a wrap-around porch. Image credit Carol Highsmith Archive, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
Victorian architecture is unique in that it is not a style, but an era. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the mass production of iron and the rise of factory systems not only brought a flood of building materials, but an influx of wealth that expanded the middle class. During this Industrial Revolution, homes were typically two stories or more with a back level that housed the kitchen, pantries and servants quarters. There was a common desire among the emerging middle class to make a show of luxury. This was represented in mass produced mock timber framing, large plate glass windows and asymmetric characteristics. (i.e.,bay windows, towers and high gables)
A row of seven brightly painted Victorian houses in San Francisco is considered one of the most recognizable examples of Victorian architecture. San Francisco was one of the first major U.S. cities to emulate Victorian architecture, with an estimated 40,000 Victorian homes built in the city between 1850 and 1900. Image credit Realtor.com.
Created as a backlash against the Industrial Revolution’s devaluation of the individual worker and over-decorated aesthetic, the Craftsman architectural style emerged in the 1860s with an emphasis on hard-work over mass-production. This style reaffirmed the beauty of natural, simple materials. Floor plans notably omitted the servant’s quarters, as the housewife of this era performed more work. From this stemmed the need for the kitchen and other similar rooms to integrate into main living spaces within the home for better flow while still remaining distinctly separate.
Craftsman Style home in Portland, Oregon with exposed beams and rafters showcasing hand-worked local and natural materials. Image credit: Premiere Tours.
What some would argue is America’s most important contribution to residential architecture was drafted to solve the housing crisis of America in the 1920s - the ranch architectural style. At the end of World War II, veterans returned home to offers of generous home loans. But the war combined with the Great Depression led to few houses being built and a pent-up demand. While builders looked for materials that were inexpensive, a few architects in California drew inspiration from homes built by ranch hands out West. They created a wide floor plan with multiple windows to capture the solitude of indoor/outdoor living and introduced the concept of multi-use spaces. Proven to be both cost effective and family focused, Americans enjoyed the casual living of ranch style homes and by the 1950s nine out of every ten American homes built were of some variation of the ranch.
Ranch style home featuring asymmetric, single-level design with an emphasis on private backyard living. Image credit: Jennifer Dyer.
A recent floor plan of a ranch style home created by Arcdimension for marketing purposes. The ranch home is still a popular style to see on the MLS.
Mid-Century Modern architecture boomed across America post WWII. Originally considered a collection of homes built rather than a style, this influence was brought to the United States by European architects fleeing Nazi Germany. Notable components of this style include the highlight of nature via outdoor eating areas, large floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed building materials and unexpected angles. It was thought that this environment stimulated the senses, encouraging people to be outside and healthy.
A midcentury-modern house in Austin, Texas, designed by Fehr and Granger in 1956. Floor-to-ceiling windows, an open layout and exposed materials were the staples of midcentury-modern design. Image credit: Casey Dunn.
The Contemporary style of today is seen as less structured and more of a free-for-all, however it is still influenced heavily by the architectural styles of the past. As new styles emerge, renovated versions of some classics are returning in their popularity. For example, versions of the ranch currently have the highest sale-to-list ratio in certain cities of the Southwest. The encouragement for homeowners to take on home renovation projects themselves has been a large factor for change. This movement has led to partial renovations, which provides more opportunities for homes with a unique combination of multiple architectural styles.
This project was a remodel of a ranch transformed to have mid-century modern aspects. Both architectural styles heavily influenced the final result of this contemporary modern retreat. Image credit: Johnson Design.
Architecture continues to serve as an imprint of the era of which it is built. As past decades have shown, regardless of where we live and when, as humans evolve, so will our homes.