Architectural Designs Amelia Keen
Georgian
This style was popular during 1700’s-1780’s and was used as a sign of wealth and elegance. Georgian style homes are commonly very symmetrical in build even in small details like the chimneys. The homes are usually made of materials like brick or painted brick. The windows and doors can have very decorative details surrounding them. Other small and ornate details are displayed throughout the architecture.
Federal
Similar to the Georgian style, Federal homes are very symmetrical in build. However, Federal homes are less fancy than the Georgian style. They are often made of brick and have many windows on the front of the house. They also often have dormer windows, chimneys, and white fences in the front of the house. The houses are normally pretty plain with not as much small details giving it a less wealthy look.
Greek Revival
Greek Revival is a common style used for government buildings because they look powerful. They include columns and normally are white in color. The entrances to Greek revival style buildings are quite grand. They also often have a symmetrical build. Another detail done with these homes are windows in the pediment.
Italianate
Italianate style homes are very square or rectangle in shape. They have features including many arches and a large tower part of the building in the middle. They have very tall and skinny windows which is unique to the style. Another aspect of Italianate buildings are the very flat roofs.
Victorian
Victorian or “gingerbread” houses are extremely detail oriented. The shapes and styles are unique to each individual home. Like georgian homes, Victorian style houses are very showy and represent a person’s wealth. The house has interesting and ornate roofs, window framing, and doors. You can always see a victorian home because they stand out with their bright colors, mansard roofs, and detailed designs.
Prairie
Prairie houses were first made by Frank Lord Wright in his effort to do architecture different than ever before. The house is made to blend in with the nature around it or “be the mountain� instead of being on the mountain. To achieve this look of blending in the house will use natural materials and colors to make the house look like it is nature. The house may also include larger windows. The house has very flat roofs with different levels of the roof.
Craftsman
Craftsman homes are very common for families right now. They use many materials from stone to wood. These different materials make the house more decorative with details like cornice in the roof. They sometimes have beams or wooden columns on the front porch and shingles on the side of the house. They can also include dormers, low pitched roofs, shutters, and are 1-2 stories.
Ranch
Ranch style houses were most common in the 50s but are still common today. A ranch style home is a very long, one story home normally including a large porch. They have a plain look and are sometimes made of wood paneling.This house is made for family because of the floor plan and large yard/ porch.
Shed
Commonly misjudged by the name, shed homes are not anywhere near a storage shed. They often have very angled roof that confuse the viewer. They were very common in the 1960’s. They are asymmetric and are 1-2 stories in height. These homes are an interesting look with tons of different angles and diagonal lines.
A-Frame
The A-Frame house is pretty self explanatory because the build of the house is in the shape of an A. The shape of the house is almost impossible to grow or add on to making these homes bad for growing families. The houses are most common in snowy climate locations because the snow will fall right off of the roof and not damage the house. These homes are usually made of wood paneling to add to a lodge feel.
Geodesic Dome
Geodesic domes are a dome shape but the domes have a geometric look to them almost like an igloo. These keep the heat in because of the airflow on the house (this is why they are used for igloos). The fact air conditioning isn’t as needed helps make these homes cheap to live in. Another aspect of the home its very lightweight build.