The following are some of the most common domestic architectural styles today. Some are newer versions of older forms, while others are revivals of older forms.
Tudor.
In the 1500s, new innovations such as chimney stacks and fireplaces, as well as the increasing affordability of brick, shaped Tudor architecture in England. Tudor Revival architecture first appeared in the nineteenth century, but it was most popular in American homes in the 1970s and 1980s, as homebuilders sought to replicate the cosiness of English country houses. High pitched roofs and gables, tall chimneys, big mullioned windows, herringbone brickwork, and half-timbered exterior walls with white stucco infill are all hallmarks of the Tudor architecture. In the spirit of a mediaeval mansion’s great hall, the central chamber for entertaining guests, interiors frequently feature exposed ceiling beams and large fireplaces. Tudor-style buildings are also common in country clubs and golf courses, implying a sense of Old World tradition.
Revival in the Mediterranean style.
Mediterranean Revival architecture takes its cues from Renaissance architecture in Spain and Italy, which was first introduced to the Americas during the colonial period. Rectangular floor plans, white stucco walls, red tiled roofs, arched windows, balconies, and even bell towers reminiscent of Spanish churches are just a few of the features. These structures are frequently surrounded by landscape architecture that includes tropical plants and lush gardens. In the 1920s and 1930s, Mediterranean Revival became popular as hotels in Florida and California attempted to replicate the grandeur of European seaside villas in order to convey a sense of sophisticated luxury to their newly developing coastlines. In recent decades, the style has surpassed Tudor in popularity as a popular choice for home construction.
Craftsman. The Craftsman style is one of the most distinctive architectural trends in America. A group of notable Boston architects and interior designers formed in the 1890s to promote its principles, drawing inspiration from the British Arts and Crafts movement. The Craftsman style stressed apparent handwork, local materials, and simplicity of design as a reaction to both the Industrial Revolution and the overly elaborate Victorian aesthetic. Its proponents were also keen to bring elegance to modest homes within the reach of America’s burgeoning middle class, and by the early twentieth century, the style had become highly popular in western cities, where many fine examples may still be found. Clean lines, symmetry, and sturdiness are all hallmarks of the Craftsman style. Low-pitched roofs, deep eaves overhanging front porches, exposed rafters, big windows, and natural materials like wood and stone are among its distinguishing features. Low ceilings, built-in cabinets, and open floor plans characterise the interiors, which are best complemented with furniture that follows the same design principles, such as Gustav Stickley’s (one of the founders and chief advocates of the Craftsman movement). The Craftsman style is intimately associated with the early work of Frank Lloyd Wright and the “Prairie School,” the pioneering architects of turn-of-the-century Chicago.
De Stijl is a style of design.
De Stijl (Dutch for “The Style”) was a post-World War I movement started by artists and architects in the Netherlands. Its founders felt that pure abstraction could make their work universal. They used only black, white, and primary colours to simplify visual forms to the horizontal and vertical. Piet Mondrian’s paintings are a perfect example of this aesthetic. The style was adapted into three-dimensional designs by the architects Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud and Gerrit Rietveld (in both homes and furniture). The intersecting rectangular geometries and use of stark white and bold primary colours distinguish De Stijl structures. Sliding panels in the interiors may allow regions to be converted from private rooms to open spaces. De Stijl elements are still prevalent in architecture today, especially in fashionable condominiums and other multi-unit housing.
