Page 115 - State College, PA Design Guidelines

• 06.28.2018

AMERICAN VERNACULAR

(1930-Present)

American vernacular architecture took on folk-house traditions, simplifying
houses during a time when Eclectic English-, Spanish- and French-influenced
houses were popular. These sturdy homes were simple in shape, built of
native materials and designed to take advantage of their sites and prevailing
winds. Windows on American Vernacular homes are typically double-hung,
have simple frames and are multi-paned. Front porches are the primary type
of embellishment on these homes, with large enough area to accommodate
outdoor activity, although the porches used vary in shape and size.
Identifying features of the American Vernacular style include:
• Simple geometric forms
• Covered porches and balconies, with unadorned porch supports
and railings
• Uncomplicated roofs
• Walls clad with one dominant material

Five principles subtypes can be distinguished:
• Front-gabled roof: simple rectangular block with front-gabled
roof; may have uncomplicated one- or two-story porch
• Side-gabled roof: simple rectangular block with side-gabled roofs;
may have uncomplicated one- or two-story porch
• Hipped roof: simple hipped-roof form; may have uncomplicated
one- or two-story porch

• Cross-gabled roof: Simple gable-and-wing form; may have
straightforward one- or two-story porch
• Complex roof form: this subtype includes a broad range of
forms designed to evoke the qualities of slightly more complex
American farmhouses. Some are designed to appear as if the
house has grown over time and others added screened porches
or familiar rural shapes like barns.

CHAPTER 9 • APPENDIX • INFORMATIONAL 109