Have you ever driven through a neighborhood and wondered about the stories behind the houses you see? Like learning the names of plants transformed my understanding of spring, Virginia Savage McAlester’s A Field Guide to American Houses 2013 can unlock the secrets of American domestic architecture. This comprehensive guide provides the tools to identify and understand the diverse styles that shape our residential landscape. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about understanding the history, technology, and societal shifts reflected in the buildings around us.
Decoding Architectural Styles: From Georgian to Ranch
The core of A Field Guide to American Houses 2013 lies in its detailed exploration of nearly fifty distinct architectural styles. McAlester meticulously dissects each style, from the grandeur of the Georgian to the simplicity of the ranch, providing a framework for identification. Each chapter offers a concise yet comprehensive overview, highlighting key characteristics and historical context.
To aid in your architectural sleuthing, the book features an illustrated “cheat sheet” of architectural features. Spot an eyebrow dormer? Turn to the sections on Shingle or Richardsonian Romanesque styles for further clues. This practical approach encourages active observation and critical thinking.
However, remember that architectural styles are not uniformly distributed. Chronological and regional factors play a significant role. Spanish Revival flourishes in the Southwest and Florida, while Greek Revival, once the “National Style,” is scarce in areas settled after 1860.
Technology’s Impact: Shaping the American Home
Beyond stylistic trends, A Field Guide to American Houses underscores the profound influence of technology on American domestic architecture. McAlester dedicates considerable attention to innovations in heating, roofing, and construction techniques, illustrating how these advancements shaped the forms and structures of our homes.
Consider roofing: early colonists, abandoning European thatch due to harsh winters, adopted wooden shingles. This allowed for lower roof pitches, enabling deeper, more square-shaped houses. The development of central furnaces freed houses from the constraints of multiple stoves, allowing for larger, more irregular designs.
The most revolutionary innovation was the advent of balloon-frame construction in the 1830s. This lightweight, standardized framing technique, still prevalent today, liberated builders from the limitations of solid masonry and heavy timbers. The result? Irregularly shaped houses with multiple corners became feasible and increasingly common. Compare the symmetrical Stenton House (1734) with the asymmetrical Davies House (1868) to witness this transformation.
The Evolution of Neighborhoods: From Railroad Suburbs to Sprawl
McAlester extends her analysis beyond individual houses to explore the evolution of American neighborhoods. A substantial chapter delves into the suburbs, examining the factors that shaped their development. The book highlights how technology, particularly transportation, played a crucial role in the rise of suburban living.
Railroads and streetcars spurred the growth of early suburbs. Railroad suburbs, often self-sufficient towns, catered to wealthier commuters. Streetcar suburbs, characterized by their narrow, continuous development along streetcar lines, offered more accessible transportation. Look for clusters around stations when identifying railroad towns. In contrast, streetcar suburbs expand from urban centers like spokes on a wheel.
The automobile and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) ushered in a new era. The FHA, established in 1934, influenced neighborhood design through its insurance policies. FHA guidelines promoted car-centric development with segregated land use, curved roads, and limited access points. This led to post-World War II suburbs with wider lots, longer blocks, and a reliance on arterial roads for retail.
The “post-suburban sprawl” era, beginning around 1970, is characterized by “SLUG” (spread-out, low-density, unguided growth) development. These areas often lack the parks and community buildings of earlier suburbs.
The McMansion Era: New Traditional vs. Millennium Mansion
In America’s more affluent areas, large and elaborate new constructions are increasingly replacing older, smaller homes. A Field Guide to American Houses 2013 identifies two dominant styles: Millennium Mansions and New Traditional homes. Millennium Mansions often feature complex roofs, varied cladding materials, and oversized entryways. New Traditional houses attempt to emulate earlier styles but often fall short in execution.
McAlester distinguishes between features that make a house look new and those that make it look poorly designed. While a front-facing garage may be a practical necessity, it’s often the poorly scaled details and skewed proportions that detract from the overall aesthetic.
However, the most significant flaw in modern construction often lies within: the open floor plan. While visually appealing to some, open floor plans can be detrimental to both entertaining and family life. They lack the separation and defined spaces that are essential for managing noise, clutter, and individual activities. Walls and doors, the unsung heroes of domestic tranquility, offer the privacy and division that large families, in particular, require.
The Home as a Stage: Beyond Style and Structure
Ultimately, A Field Guide to American Houses reminds us that houses are more than just buildings; they are the stages upon which our lives unfold. While understanding architectural styles and neighborhood patterns can enrich our appreciation of the built environment, the true value lies in creating a home that nurtures and supports our lives.
