by Architectural Observer | Jul 8, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Recently while perusing area real estate listings I ran across an all-too-common offering — the unfinished renovation of a house which had retained a good deal of originality prior to being gutted to the studs. At least it affords us the opportunity to take a...
by Architectural Observer | Jul 1, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Built in three stages beginning in 1885, the house at Cottonwood Ranch in Studley, Kansas, reflects not only the place and time in which it was built, but incorporates some traditions of builder John Fenton Pratt’s native Yorkshire, England, as well. The center...
by Architectural Observer | Jun 21, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Now that’s something you don’t see every day… especially on the High Plains of northwestern Kansas! Both the architectural style and the roof type are atypical of the region. The Jerkinhead roof, a compromise between a gabled roof and a hipped roof,...
by Architectural Observer | Jun 17, 2019 | Blog, Observations
The ongoing war against the remnants of our historic built environment continues unabated. Our previous examination of this topic (Part 1) dealt with elementary school textbooks which propagandized children and instilled a bias against historic buildings in the...
by Architectural Observer | Jun 3, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Most old houses have had alterations over the years — very few come down through time just as they were built. Unless a house was altered with an extreme attention to maintaining details, it is usually possible to get a fairly good idea as to what the house...
by Architectural Observer | Jun 2, 2019 | Blog, Observations
Each house or building in the following six photos has at least one thing wrong with it — from the viewpoint of architectural or physical integrity, that is! Some are quite obvious while others are a bit more subtle; some will have multiple offenses while others...
