Choose Your Architectural Style: Traditional or Not

Architectural styles in housing are quite varied, ranging from one level to split level to multi-story homes. Within these ranges, there are numerous styles from which you can select your dream house.

Unusual architectural styles of homes

Architects and housing design specialists have created a wide array of designs over the years for houses that offer several functional advantages over traditional housing. These designs have not become mainstream, but they are still offered.

 Geodesic Dome houses

Geodesic dome homes are energy-efficient houses due to their dome shape’s having 30 percent less external surface area. Because of this, energy savings on heating and cooling costs range around 30 percent.

They were originally created and patented by Buckminster Fuller in 1951. Fuller wanted to design a house that recreated the symmetry and geometric shapes found in nature. He used geometry to create the geodesic dome, which is the most energy-efficient home available today.

While it may look a little out of place among traditional houses, the geodesic dome is a more cost-effective structure to build due to the fact that it uses less lumber. Even with the use of less lumber, the geodesic dome home is several times stronger than a traditional house. The geodesic dome home also offers unlimited design possibilities as walls can be put anywhere.

Green Façade Houses

The living facade on green façade houses consists of plants and greenery all over the exterior walls of the house. A trellis system is attached to the walls to hold lovely green vines that grow from the ground upwards on the trellis.

If you can, imagine a house whose every exterior wall is green and vibrant with living, growing plant life. Unlike most houses that just sit on a yard, when a green façade house is properly landscaped, it seems to be an integral part of the landscape itself. It offers several advantages:

• The air quality both inside and outside the house is superb due to the oxygen given off by the plants
• The plants act as a dampener for external sounds
• The exterior of the house never needs painting
• The plants provide extra insulation from the heat and cold for the interior of the house

A green façade house can also be accented on the interior with a green façade focal wall.

More traditional architectural styles

Farmhouse architectural style

 In the Farmhouse style two-story homes, there are often metal roofs, and they have tall windows and large porches.

Craftsman style homes

One of the most widely-seen architectural styles in America is the Craftsman style of house. The Craftsman has attractively detailed wood on its exterior, and appears in bungalows or much larger homes.

Traditional architectural style homes

Often a hodgepodge of many styles, the traditional house is the most popular style on the market. With its basic lines and windows that are evenly spaced, it usually has exterior walls of wood or brick.

Rancher homes

Four main roof shapes with gables define the ranch style homes. They offer a variety of exteriors.

Country style architectural design homes

Country style homes feature big porches. They have shutters beside the windows, and wood ornamentation on them is intricately designed.

The best way to find your favorite architectural style is to view pictures first, and then tour houses in that design. When you do, you will find the one style that resonates with you. When you walk in the door of your dream house, you will immediately feel you are ‘home.’