The Colonial Styles of North America - Northern European
- Author Stuart Mitchell
- Published August 17, 2012
- Word count 574
The Americas have a long and complex history of colonisation by European settlers commonly understood to date back to the adventures of a certain C Columbus but in truth starting with the earliest visits of the Viking sailors in the first millennium AD. Whilst much might not survive of their influence on the land, the styles of the later medieval European settlers are still displayed in the colonial styles of old and modern North American architecture alike. Thanks to the mix of settlers there are a variety of influences to choose from.
French
The legacy of French settlers in North America can still be felt strongly in certain parts of French speaking Canada as well as around the Mississippi and its delta in the USA. Their buildings are typically characterised by being timber framed with large upright log pillars/columns set into the ground, known as porteaux-en-terre, or on platforms, known as porteaux-sur-solle. They are often distinctive in having a large porch along the front extent of the building, under the span of the main roof, with the raised porch and living quarters perching upon raised basements. The porches are also used to connect the building separate rooms with entrances leading through french (floor to ceiling glass panelled) doors. Entrance ways and windows can also feature plantation style shutters, whilst the walls between the timber frames are usually constructed of mixtures of clay, mud, animal hair, stones and latterly brickwork.
This French colonial style has become particularly associated with the American South, the Mississippi delta and the Plantation style due to its aptness for humid, hot and sometimes boggy environments.
Dutch
Migrants from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northern Germany and northern France settled extensively along the eastern seaboard of the USA, south of New England, particularly around the town then known as New Amsterdam, now known as New York (following its later purchase by the English). The term Dutch Colonial is commonly used to refer to houses with gambrel roofs - roofs that have a shallow slope towards the top of the roof and a steeper slope on the roof’s bottom portion (with an additional flare on some styles) - as well as some revivalist versions of these styles from the twentieth century. In reality however, Dutch settlers imported a mixture of styles and features including the use of brick, chimneys on each end of the roof, sash windows, stable (Dutch) doors and exterior wooden shutters whilst the earliest examples Dutch colonial architecture would have been simple single room houses which could have been developed over time.
German
Rather misleadingly the term German colonial can be applied to the architectural imports of settlers from across northern Europe, from Scandinavia to the Celtic nations of the UK, as well Germany itself. These migrants colonised similar territories as the ‘Dutch’ settlers from the Low Countries as mentioned above, just slightly to the south and inland, in places like Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They also imported similar features from their homelands such as the use of exposed brick work and wishbone chimneys. Indeed Dutch Colonial is seen by some as a derivation of Deutsch (German/Germanic) rather than specifically referring to styles from the Netherlands. However, German colonial styles in particular also feature the use of very thick walls, medieval European style half-timbering and stone reinforcement arches over window and door frames, whilst roofs tend to be steep in design rather than the Dutch gambrels.
© Stuart Mitchell 2012
If you want to find out more about using window shutters to achieve a colonial look then visit Wooden Shutters.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Grounded Farmhouse Living: The Soul of Vintage Furniture
- The Grounded Bohemian Home: Hand-Painted Antique Doors & Vintage Furniture
- Cabin Decor: A Perfect Mountain Hideaway
- Vintage Carved Wood: Where Ancient Symbols Meet Vibrant Color
- Designing a Bedroom Around a Single Bed That Grows With Your Child
- The Perfect Guest Bed: Why a Three-Quarter Bed is a Host's Best-Kept Secret
- Your Bedroom, a Five-Star Retreat: How a King Bed Creates a Luxury Hotel Vibe
- How to Prepare Your Home for Summer Electrical Loads
- Decorating the Humble Ranch House This Holiday Season with Vintage Carved Wood Furniture
- Personalized Carved Wood Doors: Your Gateway to Resort-Style Living at Home
- Cozy Neutrals and Natural Textures: Creating Your Deep, Lived-In Sanctuary
- Home for the Holidays: Creating Wholesome Spaces with Vintage Furniture and Antique Carved Doors
- The Style Upgrade: Why Coretec Floors Outshine Traditional Vinyl
- What’s the Best Way to Plan a Kitchen Remodel in Baltimore? Expert Answers to Common Questions
- Shades of Blue, Dramatic Doors, and a Luxe Music Room
- Curating Vintage Treasures for the Luxury Ranch Farmhouse
- Creating a Sacred Yoga Studio with Carved Wood and Vintage Elements
- Texture that Transforms: Styling Rooms with Custom Sisal Rugs
- Creating Holiday Magic with Vintage Furniture
- 10 Ways to Style Carved Doors in Apartments
- Why Designers Love Patina: The Beauty of Aged Carved Woods
- The Journey of Carved Doors: From Old Palaces to Modern Homes
- How to choose your kitchen worktop for a renovation?
- The Ultimate Home Comfort Checklist: Why Jasper Residents Trust Messmer Mechanical.
- Wildly Elegant: Why Antelope Carpet Is the Ultimate Patterned Carpet for Luxury Homes
- The Art of Carved Doors: From Rustic Charm to Modern Elegance
- Refresh Your Home with the Carefree Spirit of Boho Decor
- The Charm of Modern Farmhouse Décor
- Luxury That Lasts: Why Happy Feet Flooring Is a Smart Investment
- How Carpet Runners and Wool Rugs Transform Stairs, Halls, and Rooms
