The Townhouse and the Country House

Have you ever driven by a wide country expanse with a farmhouse on it? Now, let it be said that people can do what they wish with their own property (as long as they're not in a historic overlay district!). But, given that, there are still style standards in the world, and some homes do not belong in an urban setting while others should not be found on rural acreage. Charleston-style homes are meant for narrow urban lots. Even the timeless Georgian was always an in-town dwelling for the wealthy when away from their manor home in the country. The Georgian should not be built in the country unless the manicured gardens are built as well.

This is not to say that every home in the country should look the same, nor that urban housing should be uniform up and down the street (though in some applications, like Brownstones, it should). It is simply to say that some home plans are country, some are city, and some shouldn't be found outside a track-home subdivision. This is the rationale behind historical overlay districts, as urban planners seek to preserve a unique architectural style within certain more homogenous neighborhoods.

That being said, it should also be noted that rarely does one find a pure architectural style. The analogy of facial symmetry applies here: studies have shown that perfect facial symmetry (something that very, very few people have) is both beautiful and somewhat off-putting. Applied to architecture, one might stand in awe of the Taj Mahal, but still realize that it is cold and intimidating (of course, it was designed and constructed as a mausoleum, so the analogy does kind of break down with regard to a home!)

Still, just as the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the human face give both character and warmth, so the blending of architectural styles make a house more inviting and even attractive. Thus, in the residential design process, there are far more hybrids than pure-breeds.

We at Designed for Downtown, LLC and AJH Custom Homes, LLC continually study architectural designs as well as the various applications and hybridizations of those styles. This enables us to make suggestions to our clients based on their often quite diverse idea photos. Give us a call today to begin planning your new home design; we can make it both suitable for the location and beautiful to behold.