Architectural Styles: Exploring the Twin Cities

05 Apr Architectural Styles: Exploring the Twin Cities

The Twin Cities offers an eclectic and artistic mix of architecture styles at every price point when it comes to single family homes.

Art Deco/Moderne

Popular Years: 1925-1940

First appearing in France, Art Deco (short for Arts Décoratifs) is a style of visual arts. While it has a collection of differing styles, Art Deco often has bold geometric forms and use of vibrant colors, patterns, and textures with arched doorways and smooth walls to achieve a monolithic appearance with decorative motifs. Art Deco also experimented with new materials of the era, which included glass block, steel, stucco, concrete, and terra cotta.

 

Cape Cod/Post-War Bungalow

Popular Years: 1945-1955

After WWII and the Korean War, there was high demand for single family housing when soldiers returned home from war. This style of home is cozy and is commonly 1.5 stories, built primarily more for functionality than for artistry, and often uses a rectangular shape with simple design elements. Many adaptations of the Cape Cod/Post-War Bungalow can be found throughout the Twin Cities suburbs, such as St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, and Richfield.

 

Colonial Revival

Popular Years: 1876-1955

A style of home that became popular after the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, this timeless design is one or two stories and often features a symmetrical façade. Accented columns, double-hung windows with correctly proportioned shutters, and a brick exterior are common for this style of home. Oftentimes, Colonial/Revival homes are a rectangular and you can find porches or sunrooms on either or both sides.

 

Craftsman

Popular Years: 1905-1930

This style of home has an appreciation for natural woodwork, clean lines, quality craftsmanship, and many Craftsman homes have built-in buffets, bookshelves, and other custom cabinetry, as well as a large, covered front porch with columns. Every space in this home was considered and designed with great detail, some with exposed beams and fireplaces, and is an American architectural design that applied decorative arts with natural building materials that include real wood, stone, and brick.

 

Spanish Mission

Notable Years: 1890-Present

Offers a simple, smooth stucco or plaster exterior with red clay roof tiles and black wrought iron railings surrounding windows, the Spanish Mission home can also be discerned by round arched entryways and windows, with ornate and complex details that were inspired by Spain and homes on the Mediterranean Sea.

 

Tudor

Popular Years: 1890-1940

A descendant of Medieval architecture, Tudor-style homes are characterized by their steeply pitched gable roofs, elaborate and eccentric doorways, and exposed wood framework visible between timbers filled with stucco or masonry. Smaller Tudor-style homes can give a storybook appearance to them, offering a charming, old world feel.

 

Victorian

Popular Years: 1830-1910

More of an era than a specific style, Victorian homes are very ornate with dollhouse-like exteriors and often have gabled roofs, round turrets, turned or round columns, and ornamental or stained glass. Complex design elements are in place, with rich, natural woodwork on the interior, and wrap-around porches feature elaborate trim work, gingerbread cutouts, and spindle work. Victorian-style homes emerged during the reign of Queen Victoria, and include several styles birthed during that era, such as Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, and Romanesque. St. Paul’s Summit Avenue features hundreds of this style of home, built for the rich and notable people of the time.

 

Are you ready to explore the architectural styles of the Twin Cities? Call Jeff Anderson and the Anderson Team at 612-386-8600 and he can help you navigate your purchase!