American Architecture

Architecture — By Shopping Blogs on December 18, 2009 10:50 am

Before you enter a building, stop a minute and take a look at the type of architecture that went into designing that building. When you think about it, it is crazy when you realize just how much time and effort went into that creation. Architecture can take on many forms and styles, so every time you see a new building you are seeing something new that an architect created. For one reason or another, they built this structure to look and function in a specific way. Typically, a building is built in a specific way to serve a practical use. Usually, buildings are meant to protect humans and objects from whatever natural elements are occurring throughout the year in whatever location they are built on.

Since there are so many types of architecture from all over the world since way back when, I will only focus on some specifically American architecture. Just like any other trend or style, American architecture has changed dramatically and quickly over the years based on appeal, practicality, and innovation. The earliest forms of architecture in America were colonial styles. These structures were influenced by the different cultures living in America from the mid 1600’s to the mid 1800’s. For practical reasons, most of these colonial houses had a sloping roof, central chimney, casement windows, and a very basic square floor plan. These houses had to be built like this to protect from the weather since heating and air conditioning did not yet exist.

The next style of architecture you would see in America was the Romantic and Victorian styles. These came around in the late 1700’s through the early 1900’s. These styles were a bit fancier and often had rounded rooms, elaborate door frames, balustrades, Palladian windows, trim, porches, columns, and pointed roofs. Of course, these are not all the features during this time, and any one building would probably not have all of these particular features. However, it is obvious that the architecture during this period was beginning to become a little less practical and a little bit more of an art. No longer were houses being built only to live in but also to look at and admire.

Following the Victorian style of architecture is the modern style. These houses were popular until the late 1900’s and are still around today. The features on modern architecture would often include a low pitched roof, broad eaves, open floor plans, ranch style houses, split-levels, and bungalows. The houses many of us grew up in were most likely modern American architecture. Also, during the modern period apartments began being built and used in order to save space. Often, these large buildings were built out of glass, concrete, or brick.

Today, the newly emerging trend in architecture is postmodern architecture which explores bringing back architecture from the past and merging it with new styles and trends. This type of architecture began in the 1970’s and continues through today. To the postmodern architect, he can do what he wishes. He has no limits with his work. Whenever you see a building that seems different and crazy it is probably postmodern. There is usually and “sleek” look to their buildings while they also incorporate a number of elements from the past.

All of these different styles of architecture have been a part of America’s history and culture and they all came about for a reason and served a specific purpose. So, the next time you walk into a building take a minute and notice all the different styles and features that went into the building of that structure.

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