Building Styles

Westover

A Frame

An A-Frame design is essentially any structure that has a steep triangular frame resting directly on a foundation. There are no walls, per se, only a large roof.

This A-Frame is slightly different in that the first floor has a wall on one side, and the other side has a skylight admitting light along the ridge. Opposing but not symmetrical triangular windows are set within a rough stucco surface. Field stone walls and large timbers complete the façade.

A Frame structures became popular during the 1960s as part of the open-concept approach to residential architecture. They were not a subdivision style, but definitely a commuter style.

Erindale

Ranch

Like the Bungalow style of residences, the Ranch House originated both in Southern California and with home builders, only later to be embraced by architects and designers. The Ranch House is a post World war II design that was aimed at middle income people with cars. After taking hold in south western United States, it slowly moved north and east and became a staple suburban style by the 1960s, reversing the trend for cultural styles that went for centuries from the east coast to the west.

Niagara Parkway

Ranch

In California, the Ranch house was a single storey house on a concrete slab. In Ontario, most Ranch Houses have basements due to different climate conditions, but they remain a single storey sitting close to the ground with relatively large overhanging eaves. There is usually at least one large picture window in the living area and the bedrooms are light and airy with similarly large windows and often sliding doors. No Ranch house is complete without a garage.

Aldershot

Ranch

Nestled into a beautifully landscaped lot right by the water, let's hope this gorgeous ranch house doesn't get bought up by a McMansion maker.

Ancaster

Viceroy

Viceroy is the most popular name for the prefabricated homes that were on the market from 1960 onwards. The houses were sold as kits. The client would pick the design from a catalogue. Small changes could be made, exterior finishes could be chosen, then the building would be shipped to the site and erected by a contractor or by the owner.

Ancaster

Side Split

The side split or back split was a popular style of suburban home beginning in the late 1950s. It served two important purposes; first it allowed a heated space for the car that was an integral part of the house design instead of an add-on or afterthought, and second, it allowed for many similar houses to be built on hills, the livingroom area appearing to be on slightly higher ground. For the first time there was an access from the inside of the house to the garage.

Ancaster

Side Split

Most Split Levels had three bedrooms on the upper level, but it is not unusual to see longer splits where the living room area is almost as big as a Ranch style house. This house is a pleasant mix of suburban design with Colonial colour scheme and detailing; the blue and white is an east coast Colonial favorite.

Ancaster

Suburban Chateau

This new style exhibits the modern home owner's interest in permanence and heritage. Just as the Neo-Classical and Classical Revival home builders wanted to have design elements that reflected the European past, the modern suburban home owner wants a two garage, three bedroom home with microwave in the style of a French Chateau outbuilding or an English Cottage. These are like Period Revivals in spirit only.