Historical Architectural Styles and Building Types

Vernacular is the term given to indigenous forms of building construction. Some refer to vernacular buildings built after mill-sawn lumber was available as National Style. Buildings continued to be built according to the earlier traditional folk forms, but with widely available lumber some new shape innovations occurred. Some may have details taken from high styles such as Greek Revival or Colonial Revival. Others may have later high style modifications.

• Front Gable (2 stories high, end gable)
• Gable-and Wing or Upright-and-Wing
  (2 stories, end gable with a 1, 1-1/2, or 2 story wing at the side)
• I-House (2 stories, 2 rooms wide and one room deep)
• Four-over-Four (2 stories, 2 rooms wide and 2 rooms deep)
• Shot-Gun (1 story, 1 room wide and 2 or more rooms deep)
• Workers Cottage (1 or 1-1/2 stories, 2 rooms side by side)
• One-Pen (1 story, 1 room) § Side Gable also called Massed Plan (2 rooms wide and 2 rooms deep)
• Pyramidal (1 or 1-1/2 stories with pyramidal roof) Commercial Vernacular 1835-1925

Early vernacular commercial buildings are referred to as Commercial Vernacular style, and the latter forms are referred to as 20th Century Commercial Style. These buildings are recognized by their form, not their architectural style although they may have some decorative features and detailing taken from architectural styles and may even have some high style features. Italianate and Classical features are often incorporated. Main streets were developed in response to the community’s need for a concentrated focus of public buildings. These commercial buildings are typically found in main street areas.

• street facades abutting one another and defining the property’s Edge
• buildings in relative scale with adjacent commercial vernacular buildings
• facades that adhere to the basic composition with variations depending on use and time period
• typical three part facades: storefront, upper stories, and cornice or parapet
• features may include: prism glass in the transoms above storefronts, cast iron supports and pressed metal cornices.

1835-1860   Greek Revival

1850-1885   Italianate

1850-1870   Octagon

1860-1875   Second Empire

1879-1890   Gothic Revival

1880-1890   Stick

1880-1905   Queen Anne

1880-1890   Eastlake

The name refers to mass-produced decorative components most often applied to Queen Anne and Stick Style houses. The style is associated with the interior designer Charles Locke Eastlake (1833-1906.)

• thickly turned posts and balusters
• large brackets
• fancy scrollwork
• perforated gables
• (the above is otherwise referred to as spindle work or gingerbread)

Unlike other Victorian styles, the Shingle Style does not rely on decorative ornament rather, it encompasses all the mass under a simple wood shingle cladding used for both the roof and walls.

• asymmetrical forms
• extensive porches
• the use of continuous wood shingles on the walls and roof

Description: This style makes much use of the semi-circular arched opening for both windows and doors and is always made of monochromatic brick or stone.

• masonry corbels (stepped out) along the eaves or belt courses
• square or polygonal towers
• semi-circular arched window and door openings
• If multiple arches are grouped, columns with carved capitals may separate them

Richardsonian Romanesque Style buildings with their broad roof planes and straightforward treatment of stone follow the examples of architect H. H. Richardson (1836-1886.) The buildings have asymmetrical facades and are always built of masonry. Rather than rely on decorative detailing, solid massing with limited ornament conveys the style.

• round top arches
• rough faced, square cut stonework
• squat towers
• smooth piers with enriched capitals
• deeply set windows

This revival style was a dramatic contrast to the earlier Queen Anne Style. This more ordered style has a studied formalism, symmetrical composition, simple flat facades, and low pitched roofs.

• restrained decoration
• rectangular form
• limestone or stucco
• minimal use of columns or decoration at the entry
• arches at first story windows or entrances
• wide roof overhang
• roof tiles

Originating from the Spanish architecture of the American southwest, Mission Style is recognized by the use of a dominant curved parapet influenced by the Spanish mission churches. The most common form of the Mission Style buildings is symmetrical with a hipped roof or asymmetrical with varied roof forms. In some examples mission details adorn Prairie Style houses.

• stucco
• red roof tiles
• mission shaped dormer or parapet
• arched openings

Neoclassical Style buildings always have a symmetrical façade with a center door and with a two story or full height porch either at the entry (may be curved or pedimented) or across the front façade. The porch is supported with classical columns with Ionic or Corinthian capitals. Early versions have hipped roof with elaborate columns; later versions have side gable roof with simple slender columns.

• classical details such as pediments
• window variations
• a balustrade on the porch roof
• may have side wings

Originating in the Chicago suburbs, particularly Oak Park and River Forest, this style representing the strong influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and other Prairie Style architects has a horizontal emphasis. Houses are typically two stories with one story wings or porches. The cube, hipped roof form is the American Foursquare Style subtype.

• low pitched roofs (usually hipped, less often gabled)
• wide, overhanging eaves
• massive square porch supports
• hidden entrances (on some)
• windows grouped in horizontal bands
• horizontal board siding or contrasting wood trim between stories, or recessed horizontal masonry joints
• brick or stucco with decorative banding

This post-Victorian style of single-family house was prized for its ease of construction, practicality, and roomy interior. It was built as four square rooms, with one serving as the entry and stair hall. A front parlor, dining room and kitchen completed the downstairs room arrangement, with the second story rooms mirroring the same arrangement. Stylistic details can be borrowed from the earlier Victorian era, or can be derived from the Craftsman style.

• simple two story box form or nearly square plan
• symmetrical façade, although the entrance may be off center
• cubic shape hipped roof, usually with dormers
• one story porch with square supports
• overhanging eaves
• double hung windows
• may have hipped roof dormers
• one story wing or broad front porch
• built in wide variety of materials, including wood, brick, and stucco
• secondary details in Classical, Prairie or Craftsman styles

A popular romantic revival style from the first half of the 20th century, Tudor Revival Style was a romantic inspiration based on English Medieval buildings. The style is recognized by the use of a steeply pitched side gable or hipped roof, with one or more front facing, asymmetrically placed gables.

• masonry, stucco, half-timbered
• walls or a mixture of wall materials
• mullions, transoms, and trim of stone are typical, as are rounded Tudor arch door openings
• double hung or casement windows with multiple panes (some leaded)
• shed dormers
• multiple and over lapping dormers
• less often, projecting oriel bays

The bungalow is a small one or one-and-one-half story house with a large simple roof form, either a low pitch hip or gable shape. The one story porch, often set under the same roof, has substantial supports such as large square posts. Craftsman examples display the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement with attention to detailing.

• roof overhangs with wide projecting eaves
• exposed brackets
• tapered porch columns, often resting on piers of brick, stone or wood
• exposed rafters
• roof dormers
• double hung windows with three or more lights in the upper sash and one in the lower sash

• Architect Designed sub-type of Modern Style houses often reflected the architect’s interests such as the use of new materials or building technologies, energy conservation, and the desire for a unique house.
• The Ranch sub-type has a low profile, one story with wide overhangs, flat or low pitched roofs, and contrasting wall materials or textures. Windows are often set high and in unusual patterns. Detailing is taken from various sources: Prairie (strong horizontal lines), Craftsman, Spanish Colonial, and Colonial Revival styles.
• The Minimal Traditional sub-type has the traditional form but without decoration, a low roof pitch and minimal roof overhangs. Often minimal traditional houses have a front facing gable.