STEP THREE
After considering the approximate vintage and key architectural elements of your home, it is time to do some research to further classify your house’s style. Study the architectural style that you think applies to your house or your style goal. Understanding what you like about a particular style will help you then craft a vision for a cohesive representation of this style as you move forward with your design. The goal here is to identify the key elements that will define your exterior architectural style.
Acknowledge the Historical Context
The exterior architecture and date of construction provide a baseline for style guidance. Acknowledging the historical context of the design can help to hone the overall style as you move towards defining your exterior style profile.
Scale, Proportion and Ornamentation
The exterior style should respect the proportions and ornamentation of the overall architecture. Sometimes, particularly in newer homes, this means editing existing features to provide a more cohesive result. Understanding, establishing and maintaining a scale, proportion and level of ornamentation throughout the exterior will make any style appear more thoughtfully done and pleasing to look at.
Respect Original Features Where Practical
Where original features (moulding, masonry, blown glass, etc.) can be identified and generally conform to functional and aesthetic desires, maintain them. These features, particularly in old houses, are very difficult to replicate. If they are in good shape or can be salvaged, it might be worth using these as anchor elements in your design.
Make It Beautiful
Looking at older architectural styles it is easy to identify beauty and craftsmanship. This apparent beauty is a factor in the survival of these buildings. People care about preserving beautiful things. By working hard to establish clear architectural expressions that convey a sense of beauty we can in essence, help to improve the durability and sustainability of the design.
Consider Functional Requirements Early
Creating a functional house is essential. Establishing functional objectives early in the design process will ensure that function and beauty can be balanced.
When establishing the architectural style profile for your house, consider how much maintenance you want to do, how windows and doors need to operate, and what kind of environmental influence the house has to endure. Certain styles will stand out as being more or less adaptable to your functional requirements.
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-This guide provides a brief, highly graphical overview of Canada's architectural heritage, highlighting the defining characteristics of various building styles and types across different historical periods. We love older Parks Canada publications.
Parks Canada. Buildings of Canada: A Guide to Styles and Types. 1980, https://www.historicplaces.ca/media/7173/buildingsofcanada.pdf.
-This guide, commissioned by an East coast municipality, is quite comprehensive. It provides more detailed information on the architectural styles that are common in Canada.
Town of Sackville. Heritage Architecture Style Guide. 10 Mar. 2014, https://sackville.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Heritage_Architecture_Style_Guide_Final_10March2014.pdf.
-This book provides a comprehensive overview of major architectural styles and building terminology in Ontario from the late 18th century to relatively modern times.
Blumenson, John J.-G. Ontario Architecture: A Guide to Styles and Building Terms, 1784 to the Present. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1990.
-A concise introduction to considering the architectural character of your home is provided in the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Cultural Resources - Preservation Guides. The National Park Service preservation guides are a great resource in general and well worth exploring.
-This book outlines what to look for, what to do and what not to do when working on important building details.
Cusato, Marianne, and Ben Pentreath. Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid. Sterling, 2007.
-This book provides an excellent detailed guide to American residential architecture (basically the same as Canadian architecture).
McAlester, Virginia Savage. A Field Guide to American Houses (Revised): The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America's Domestic Architecture. Knopf, 2015.
-This book provides detailed information on building elements.
Benjamin, Asher. The American Builder's Companion. Illustrated ed., Feb. 26, 2009, Dover Publications.
-This book provides detailed information on building elements indicating scale and proportion.
Radford, William A., Bernard L. Johnson, and Charles P. Rawson. Radford's Portfolio of Details of Building Construction: A Remarkable and Unique Collection of Full-Page Plates, Accurately Drawn and Reproduced to Exact Scale. Complete Details for Every Style of Interior Trim, Including Special Built-In Features. Illustrated ed., Dover Publications, Aug. 31, 2012.
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