|
Posted by Michael Bulatovich on December 27, 2007, 3:39 pm
> Kami Kitty:
>
> Kami Kitty wrote:
>> I need an expert. Or semi-expert. Consensus maybe?
>>
>> My sister and I are in a bit of disagreement about what style this house
>> is, if any particular style at all. Any input is appreciated.
>>
>> http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?90b5eff3f7.jpg
>
>
>
> In architecture one finds the content, and hence, the value, by means of
> the description.
Wha?
> The description is that of the intention of the work. Architects mean what
> they design.
On a good day, maybe. On a bad day, they don't remember what they meant.
> Its a mixed style that is based upon a practical New England Salt Box
> shape. Forget the garage - that is simply an addition.
>
> The dormers are additions, and the slopes of those roof planes is more
> horizontal than vertical - almost 90 degrees, and the proportions are a
> little like American Gothic. Even with the small 1960s windows.
>
> You could generalize that certain more vertical slopes are peculiar to the
> American Gothic proportions and more horizontal to the ranch style look.
> Rarely are 90 degree roof angles found.
When they get to 90 I call them "walls", and while they give the middle of
the plan a lot of light, I usually find they leak from above.
> The set back of the window dormer gable walls from the line of the first
> floor wall produces the roof extension over the large front windows and
> entrance.
I thought the position of the ground floor's front wall did that.
> That tells me that the house is of an Eastern 'country' or 'rural' style
> that often has front roof extensions that are at different slopes than the
> main roof.
Wha? You talking about a cricket, or bell cant?
> Its every part an American or Canadian house, although, I wouldn't be
> surprised if it was located in the South, either.
>
> The horizontal pattern of the brick units resembles the horizontal
> patterns of Illinois limestone flagstone veneer, even though the colors
> are not the grays and iron yellows of the Illinois stone. The horizontal
> stone pattern gives a horizontal ranch type appearance that was popular in
> the 1950s and 1960s.
>
> The plan would say more.
>
> In summary, I would label the house a hybrid 1960s New England - Ranch
> style house.
<snip>
I think you're giving this thing way too much credit. It looks like
builder-schlock to me. Not everything has a 'style'. To do so is to conform
to a recognized set of formal imperatives to some extent. BTW, guessing from
the clumsy geometry, I'd say this thing is newer than you think.
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap