At first glance, perhaps a house is a house; you may be unfamiliar with different architectural styles, and you may be wondering what exactly differentiates one from another. Home architecture has undergone several changes over the centuries, and the older houses of the world are as varied as the cultures and people that produced them.
Although there are a wide variety of different home styles, today we’ll be describing four types of homes and what makes each one unique.
Farmhouse
Farmhouses serve as the home for individuals raising crops and/or animals in a rural setting. Because of their relative isolation from large cities, these homes are generally built using simple construction materials and techniques. Older farmhouses may only have one large room in which the family conducted all of their business, or a few simple rooms. The houses are generally somewhat small. Farmhouses in the United States were often constructed with a central fireplace, which the family used for a number of purposes including cooking food and heating the rest of the home.
Townhome
The original townhome was the forerunner of the modern apartment building. These city dwellings were built directly next to each other and stacked vertically, maximizing available space. While townhomes take up only a small amount of land, they are generally much roomier than apartments as we know them, as each unit has multiple floors that belong to the same tenant. Townhomes today are generally owned by wealthy citizens of large cities, as they are the most luxurious living option where sprawling homes on multiple acres of land are simply unavailable.
Cottage
The cottage is in many ways similar to the farmhouse, with the marked difference of not being used exclusively by farmers. Cottages are small homes, and in the United States, their appeal often lies in the fact that they are more rustic than other dwellings. They’re small historic buildings constructed very similarly to the farmhouse (minimal rooms, local building materials, etc) and are often situated in a rural location, thus being popular as rentals with those visiting from a more urban area.
Tudor Style
Tudor houses are by far the most elegant homes on our list. The style of architecture borrows heavily from both Medieval and Renaissance periods, employing gable roofs, stone construction, and elaborate embellishments. Stucco and brick were other common building materials. While Tudor houses are most common in the United Kingdom, the construction found its way to North America with settlers and remained popular in the United States until the mid 20th century. If you stumble on one, it’s likely that it will be an old historic building with tons of history.
Like we mentioned, these are only a few on the long list of architectural styles you might see around. As you continue to learn the styles and types, you’ll fall more and more in love with each one and might even impress your friends with your knowledge. And once you know what type of home you have, you can easily determine which fence will look fantastic with it.
