Architecture & Building Type & Component Identification Guide InspectAPedia® -
Photos & sketches of architectural building types
Roof designs and types, shapes, recognition guide
Window designs, types, recognition guide
Identification photos & drawings of other building features
Questions & answers about how to identify the architectural style of buildings and building components
Architectural Styles, Features, Components, an easy photo guide: How to recognize residential building architectural styles, roof shapes and styles, window types and systems.
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Here we present a series of drawings and photographs to assist in recognition and naming of building architectural styles, roof shapes, window types, and other building features.
We also recognize that not every building fits a perfect textbook name or class, building are rarely constructed to a single pure architectural style. Rather, architectural elements are often mixed, mashed, and sometimes, like the house shown in our page top photo, lost entirely. After inspecting the foundation hidden below that structure we named this building "country-collapsing style".
We left our beemer safely out of reach of this country-collapsing structure.
Readers should see the additional photo and drawing guides to building architectural styles in the links listed at page left, and also see ARCHITECTURE, STYLE, & Building Age included in our series of detailed articles: AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine as well as individual building component links at page left.
As the Georgian style Daniel Vose house (today called the Suffolk Resolves house) (1774) shows, in actual practice the architecture of even important, historic homes may be complicated than the archetype illustrations of architectural types below.
The Suffolk Resolves house was actually joined from two earlier homes, and later completely relocated to its present location in Milton MA. Here is another view of this home from the rear right. Details including photographs of the home cut apart and being relocated are in Milton Architecture.
Names of the architectural styles below may include a live link to additional photo examples of each style.
Left to right (click to enlarge) Early Classical Revival, Greek Revival, Georgian, Adams Style (First Bank of Hudson, Hudson NY 1809) Architecture
Left to right (click to enlarge) Colonial Revival, Italian Renaissance (remuddled, Hudson NY), Italianate (Hudson NY), Gothic Revival (Justin Morrill Smith Homestead, VT 1840) style architecture. Also see this simple Colonial style architecture (Hudson NY, described as "early Victorian" 1860).
Left to right (click to enlarge) Stick style architecture, Queen Anne, Additional Queen Anne details, Shingle style architecture.
Left to right (click to enlarge) Tudor style (also see Tudor revival, Williams Faculty Apartments, Vassar College), Prairie School (Vassar campus), Craftsman style (Poughkeepsie NY) & Salt Box design architecture.
At Field Guides to North American House Architecture we list (and you can buy at Amazon) books we have found particularly helpful in identifying architectural styles, including: as this more extensive list of architectural styles: Folk Houses, Native American Houses (U.S.), Pre-Railroad houses, National Architectural Styles (U.S.), Colonial Houses (1600-1820),
Postmedieval English, Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Georgian, Adam, Early Classical Revival, Romantic Houses (1820-1880),
Greek Revival style architecture, Gothic Revival style architecture, Italianate style architecture, Exotic Revivals style architecture, Octagon houses, Victorian style architecture Houses (1860-1900), Second Empire style architecture, Stick style architecture,
Queen Anne style architecture, Shingle style architecture, Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture, Folk Victorian style architecture, Eclectic Houses (1880-1940), Anglo-American style architecture, English style architecture, and French Period Houses,
Colonial Revival style architecture, Neoclassical style architecture, Tudor style architecture, Chateauesque style architecture, Beaux Arts style architecture, French Eclectic style architecture, Mediterranean Period Houses style architecture, Italian Renaissance style architecture,
Mission style architecture, Spanish Eclectic style architecture, Monterey style architecture, Pueblo Revival style architecture, Modern Houses including Prairie style architecture, Craftsman style architecture, Modernistic style architecture, International style architecture, and
American Houses Since 1940: Modern style architecture & Neoeclectic style architecture
as well as unusual houses such as Mongolian Cloud (photo, Kuehn)
houses and Underground Houses (photo, Roy).
Questions & Answers regarding this article
Questions & answers about how to identify the architectural style of buildings and building components
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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
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Field Guides to North American House Architecture
A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia & Lee McAlester (1984) ISBN-10: 0394739698 ISBN-13: 978-0394739694 includes a pictorial key and glossary to these architectural styles: Folk Houses, Native American Houses (U.S.), Pre-Railroad houses, National Architectural Styles (U.S.), Colonial Houses (1600-1820),
Postmedieval English, Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Georgian, Adam, Early Classical Revival, Romantic Houses (1820-1880),
Greek Revival style architecture, Gothic Revival style architecture, Italianate style architecture, Exotic Revivals style architecture, Octagon houses, Victorian style architecture Houses (1860-1900), Second Empire style architecture, Stick style architecture,
Queen Anne style architecture, Shingle style architecture, Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture, Folk Victorian style architecture, Eclectic Houses (1880-1940), Anglo-American style architecture, English style architecture, and French Period Houses,
Colonial Revival style architecture, Neoclassical style architecture, Tudor style architecture, Chateauesque style architecture, Beaux Arts style architecture, French Eclectic style architecture, Mediterranean Period Houses style architecture, Italian Renaissance style architecture,
Mission style architecture, Spanish Eclectic style architecture, Monterey style architecture, Pueblo Revival style architecture, Modern Houses including Prairie style architecture, Craftsman style architecture, Modernistic style architecture, International style architecture, and
American Houses Since 1940: Modern style architecture & Neoeclectic style architecture
The American House, Mary Mix Foley, Harper Colophon Books, ISBN-0-060090831-9, ISBN-10: 0060112964 ISBN-13: 978-0060112967 1980, has been a guide we have found useful for recognizing house architectural styles
Dutch Houses in the Hudson Valley (NY) Before 1776 (New Paltz area for example), Dover Publications; Re Issue edition (1965) ASIN: B0006BNAD2
Milton Architecture (MA) (Images of America) (Paperback), Anthony M. Sammarco (Author), Paul Buchanan (Author), Arcadia Publishing (December 2, 2000) ISBN-10: 0738504963 ISBN-13: 978-0738504964 discusses the history of the Suffolk Resolves house and other historic homes in the Milton Massachusetts area
Mongolian Cloud Houses, How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably, Dan Frank Kuehn, Shelter Publications 2006 ISBN-10: 0936070390 ISBN-13: 978-0936070391 "Written for those interested in alternative lifestyles, outdoor living, camping, and do-it-yourself projects, this lively, informative book recounts the author's experiences building his first yurt. Dan Frank Kuehn carefully guides readers through every step of the creation of a 13' round by 10' tall model. He covers everything — from the poles and lattice that form the basic structure, to the plusses and minuses of various materials, to the distinctive willow smokehole. This updated edition highlights new building techniques and contains detailed lists of commercial yurt manufacturers, tools, and materials."
Underground Houses, How to Build A Low-Cost Home, Robert L. Roy, Sterling; illustrated edition edition (December 31, 1994), ISBN-10: 0806907282 ISBN-13: 978-0806907284 "According to Roy, underground or `earth-sheltered' houses are unexpectedly livable. Judging by his book's attractive pictures, that's easy to believe. The house he bases his point-by-point guide on is indeed a showplace. Its homey touches are just that, though, and Roy's main concern is creating such a house, from drawing up the plans to surveying the site to the actual building. Roy's instruction is insightful and comprehensive....Throughout, he covers construction and installation details that are extremely important for nonprofessionals brave enough to undertake building their own homes."
Earth Sheltered Homes, U.S. DOE: DOE describes two basic types of earth sheltered homes: underground homes and bermed homes (banked with earth).
Designing Underground Earth-Sheltered Homes
When an entire earth-sheltered house is built below grade or completely underground, it's called an underground structure. The atrium or courtyard design can accommodate an underground, earth-sheltered house.
Atrium or Courtyard Design
An earth-covered dwelling may have as little as 6–8 inches (0.2 meters) of sod or as much as 9 feet (2.7 meters) of earth covering the structure. An atrium design offers an open feeling because it has four walls that give exposure to daylight. This design uses a subgrade open area as the entry and focal point of the house. | The house is built completely below ground on a flat site, and the major living spaces surround a central outdoor courtyard. The windows and glass doors that are on the exposed walls facing the atrium provide light, solar heat, outside views, and access via a stairway from the ground level. Atrium/courtyard homes are usually covered with less than 3 feet (0.9 meters) of earth primarily because greater depths do not improve energy efficiency. This style also offers the potential for natural ventilation. The atrium design is hardly visible from ground level and barely interrupts the landscape. It also provides good protection from winter winds and offers a private outdoor space. This design is ideal for an area without scenic exterior views, in dense developments, and on sites in noisy areas. Passive solar gain—heat obtained through windows—might be more limited, due to the window position in an atrium plan. Courtyard drainage and snow removal are important items to consider in design.
Designing Bermed Earth-Sheltered Homes A bermed earth-sheltered house may be built above grade or partially below grade, with outside earth surrounding one or more walls. Such a structure can accommodate more conventional earth-sheltered house designs, such as elevational and penetrational.
Elevational Design for earth bermed homes: Elevational plans expose one whole face of the house and cover the other sides—and perhaps the roof—with earth. The covered sides protect and insulate the house. The exposed front of the house, usually facing south, allows the sun to light and heat the interior. The floor plan is arranged so common areas and bedrooms share light and heat from the southern exposure. This type of house may be placed at varying depths below ground level and is usually set into the side of a hill. The view provided will be one of landscape, rather than open sky, as in the atrium design. A structure designed in this way can be the least expensive and simplest to build of all earth-sheltered structures. The elevational design may have limited internal air circulation and reduced daylight in the northern portions of the house, though there are ways to alleviate these problems by using skylights. The wide design of the house can be offset by close attention to architectural details, landscaping, and exterior materials.
Penetrational Design for Earth Sheltered Homes In a penetrational design, earth covers the entire house, except where it is retained for windows and doors. The house is usually built at ground level, and earth is built up (or bermed) around and on top of it. This design allows cross-ventilation opportunities and access to natural light from more than one side of the house.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Earth-Sheltered Homes As with any home design, earth-sheltered houses have their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Earth-Sheltered Homes There are many advantages to earth-sheltered construction. An earth-sheltered home is less susceptible to the impact of extreme outdoor air temperatures, so you won't feel the effects of adverse weather as much as in a conventional house. Temperatures inside the house are more stable than in conventional homes. And with less temperature variability, interior rooms seem more comfortable. Because earth covers part or all of their exterior, earth-sheltered houses require less outside maintenance, such as painting and cleaning gutters. Constructing a house that is dug into the earth or surrounded by earth builds in some natural soundproofing. Plans for most earth-sheltered houses "blend" the building into the landscape more harmoniously than a conventional home. Finally, earth-sheltered houses can cost less to insure because their design offers extra protection against high winds, hailstorms, and natural disasters such as tornados and hurricanes.
Disadvantages of Earth-Sheltered Homes As with any type of unusual construction, there are some disadvantages associated with earth-sheltered housing. Principal downsides are the initial cost of construction, which may be up to 20% higher. Also, an increased level of care is required to avoid moisture problems, during both the construction and the life of the house. It can take more diligence to resell an earth-sheltered home, and buyers may have a few more hurdles to clear in the mortgage application process.
- Original source at DOE: - energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10100
- Also see Site Specific Factors for Earth Sheltered Homes, US DOE -
energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10140
- Also see Construction Materials for Earth Sheltered Homes, US DOE -
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10150
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
"Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Certainteed Weatherboard fiber cement siding and trim products - see certainteed.com/ or see certainteed.com/resources/sidingandtrimspecsheet.pdf
"Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
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