Spectrum Group Architects, PC

09/11/2023

Domestic Architecture of the Modern Movement developed in two stages; The Arts & Crafts movement, and the Machine Age, which came about after World War I.

The Arts & Craft movement deliberately 'turned its back' on historical precedence for decoration and design, with ornamentation becoming 'modernized'. Two distinct styles for American houses came out of this movement, the Prairie Style (1900-1920) and the Craftsman Style (1905-1930). Prairie Style roots came from Chicago with Frank Lloyd Wright, whereas the Craftsman Style was born in southern California with the Greene brothers.

06/13/2023

Medieval Architecture refers to those houses built during the Middle Ages; before the Renaissance style. When the Renaissance influence took hold, the first forms were classical detailing applied to house of Medieval form.
~A Field Guide to American Houses

02/14/2023

Let's talk about the 'latest' trend of Tiny Houses. The concept and design of Tiny Houses in America goes back to the early 1620's, when English Settlers, built their homes using methods imported from Medieval England. These homes had a 'footprint' of 168 square feet.
(Photo credit from Tiny Tiny Houses, Lester Walker)

02/14/2023

The Renaissance Classical House styles, whether the emphasis is Italian, French, or English, all share certain features, including balanced, symmetrical facades and typically have decorative details, such as crowned windows and doors, dentils, quoins, and pilasters. Very rare would be two-story columns; one story entrance porches is quite frequent on these homes.

02/06/2023

To continue the topic of distinguishing and identifying American House Styles, the Ancient Classical Styles, although classified into three styles, all these houses have an entry or full-façade porch, supported by large columns and low pitched roofs.

The Early Classical Revival style houses are loosely based upon Roman models, and are simple side-gabled or hipped roof houses with full-height entry porches.

The Greek Revival style house have a very wide band of trim beneath the eaves, and many have full-facade or full height entry porches with large columns. Roofs could be side-gabled or hipped.

And the Neoclassical houses, are normally two-story with prominent full-height columns. These columns were Roman or Greek inspiration, and elaborate capitals.

01/31/2023

"To make any floor plan work, there has to be a balance between open spaces and closed, between public and private."
~The Not so Big House, Sarah Susanka

01/30/2023

01/16/2023

"Much of our engagement with architecture is not through direct contact, but through the act of empathy, of emotionally responding to an object, image, or space from a distance."
~The Sacred In-Between

01/09/2023

One early role of religion was to bind together a clan, tribe, nation or culture. Even the most primordial of architecture, the burial mound, served to reinforce the continuity of the clan, the hierarchy of its leaders, and its territorial claims.

01/05/2023

The language of Architecture serves to communicate its symbolic content to establish it's own multiple, complex meanings. The deciphering of the symbolism of Architecture leads to deeper understandings of the culture that built it.

12/27/2022

The majority of styled American houses are loosely modeled on one of four principal architectural traditions: Ancient Classical, Renaissance Classical, Medieval, or Modern.
~ A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia & Lee McAlester

11/15/2022

American 'domestic buildings are of two principal sorts: folk houses and styled houses. Folk Houses are those designed without a conscious attempt to mimic current fashion. Many are built by their occupants or by non-professional builders, and all are relatively simple houses meant to provide basic shelter, with little concern for presenting a stylish fact to the world.'
~ A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia & Lee McAlester