The Houses We Live In: An Identification Guide to the History and Style of American Domestic Architecture

by Jeffery W. Howe (Editor)

This book is a guide to the architectural styles of American houses. Highly illustrated with photographs and overlays to identify key recognition features, it covers a variety of architectural styles from colonial to modern America. In a section by section treatment, The Houses We Live In details how the various styles were developed, its originators and proponents, the main dates when the style was popular, and the main houses and regions that saw the style. Detailed photographs show variations of the style from all angles and close-ups of key points. Contents Vernacular architecture (Native American, log cabin, etc.); Colonial; European Revival (Greek, Gothic, etc.); Victorian (Second Empire, Richardson Romanesque, etc.); Pre-WW2 (Neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Tudor, Mediterranean, etc.); and American Modern (Prairie, Craftsman).

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Reference, Cities, History, Art

448 pages, Hardcover

Published November 26, 2002

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great illustrations, but I wish the emphasis was less on the finest examples of styles, and more on common examples. For vernacular houses, try "A Field Guide to American Houses" by Virginia and Lee McAlister.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reference book really, not something you read through cover to cover. It is an excellent guide for identifying American residential architectural styles.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well organized, with well reproduced photos, layout plans and drawings. An excellent coffee table book that is a great reference work as well. As another reviewer pointed out, this book generally shows best of class, so I would recommend adding a book with more emphasis on average homes like A Field Guide to American Houses or a similar reference work.

[Mark Einselen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to "Houses of Worship", this looks like a self-published book. The sheer amount of photographs is impressive and a useful guidebook for anyone.