Identity Crisis
Although this house is clearly struggling with its identity, it's quite obvious that the house was originally styled in the Craftsman manner; it probably dates to around 1915. Surviving original defining details include the projecting eaves with exposed rafter tails,...
The Road to Hell: Paved with Good Intentions
A common justification for building anew (as opposed to renovating an existing building) is the claim that the client can get "exactly what is wanted" or that new construction will be a "fresh start" - a chance to "do things right". Of course, this only works if both...
A Tudor in Drag
This house was built as a modest example of Tudor Revival, probably in the late 1920's or early 1930's. If it weren't for the few surviving identifying characteristics typical of the style (projecting gabled brick entry with arched door and first story diamond-paned...
Row Houses on the Prairie
One doesn't expect to see Victorian-era row houses anywhere in Kansas, but especially not in the less-populated western half. There just wasn't much need for a dense, urban, housing type on the wide-open prairie. Imagine my surprise when, 15 or 20 years ago, I ran...
Swallowed Alive
The passage of time manifests itself differently on some buildings than on others. This place really intrigues me and, because it's still standing, there is still hope. One of Stockton, Kansas' most architecturally significant early houses, this Second Empire...
Fake History Removed!
I'm so used to seeing real history destroyed or covered up that it kind of shocks me when I see the reverse happen. This stone storefront is a good example. When I first noticed this building in Hays, Kansas, I was puzzled by the clapboard fake front (complete with...
Pretty in Pink
Every once in a while I run across one of those increasingly rare houses which still maintains a true-to-the-period or original paint scheme. When I do, I have to photograph it because I know that at some point in the future that particular look will not be valued....
Self-defeating Quoins
The insanity never ends... these fake quoins go one step further than most in demonstrating their superficiality. Originally a wood-frame house of conventional construction, this place was given a makeover in an effort to elevate its common origins, including a...
Super-size my McHistory!
While it's fair to say that there is more awareness and appreciation of historic styles than there was forty years ago, it's also fair to say that there is room for improvement - especially where issues of scale, proportion, details and historic...
Revisiting Virtually
I've been digging through a lot of old photographs recently and became curious about what had happened to some of the places I had photographed years ago. This photo, for example, was taken in downtown Cherokee, Iowa about ten years ago. At the time I was struck by...
Preservation Dilemma
Sometimes the choices made in historic preservation efforts aren't always clear-cut. Increasingly, there is debate over what is worthy of preservation and what is not. Many years ago I photographed this vibrant 1960's-vintage metal facade which spanned...
Trying Too Hard
Sometimes people get it wrong in their eagerness to "get it right". This small addition to a late Victorian-era house is a good example. Whoever designed the addition (which is made of wood) clearly wanted to "respect" the original brick house by emulating window...
Wishful Thinking
Here is a house which is a nominal example of Drag Queen Architecture. Aside from the decorative flourishes atop two windows, the only alterations to the character of this house were made with color. As a Colonial Revival style house - likely built in the...
Scary Mansard Roofs
In keeping with today's Halloween theme, here are a few "mansard" roofs which should be enough to make even the most hardened Trick-or-Treater think twice before knocking: The following mansard-like roofs were grafted onto commercial...
Happy Halloween!
While every day can be architecturally frightening at the Architectural Observer, it seems fitting to commemorate our very first Halloween with some appropriate imagery:
Counterfeit Quoins
Architectural illiteracy is increasingly evident - sometimes to the point of the absurd. Take quoins for example. Quoins are the big corner blocks you see on old brick and stone buildings. Their purpose is structural, not decorative, though they typically are...
Vinyl Siding
Regarding exterior maintenance, many homeowners are convinced that "vinyl is final!" despite the fact that there is no such thing as a maintenance-free exterior. They all need upkeep. Regardless, vinyl siding remains a popular option for many. Personally, I only...
The Architectural Observer rarely looks at “important” buildings; the focus is upon overlooked ones. Some will be antique survivors which have come through time surprisingly intact. Many will be old buildings which have been altered without regard to their stylistic integrity while others will be new construction which never had any stylistic integrity to begin with.
The decline of architectural integrity is just one more facet of the prolific and ongoing devolution of our culture. The Architectural Observer calls it like it is! Are there more important and pressing issues facing us now? Yes, but everyone needs a distraction from those other issues once in a while. And besides, this is relevant and much more fun!
There are four kinds of distractions here:
OBSERVATIONS highlights the lowlights of our built environment – and observes occasional architectural details which might otherwise be overlooked.
PLAN BOOK AND KIT HOUSES examines structures built from mail order plans or actual kits.
PROJECTS follows the progress on a variety of design-related endeavors.
DRAG QUEEN ARCHITECTURE showcases buildings built in one style but which are trying to pass themselves off as a different style.
Let’s face it; we built better buildings in the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries than we do now. Let’s take a cue from the past and start to remember how buildings are supposed to look and function. Thanks for joining me – please use the contact form for polite inquiry or to gripe at me.
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