MISSION
STYLE :
Mission style houses are either balloon frame or
structural clay tile construction with a stucco finish. Most
have a flat roof with a parapet. On the street facade, the
parapet may have a curvilinear gable. Some Mission homes have
gabled roofs. These are traditionally covered with barrel
tile. Each house has a stucco chimney, some of which have tiled
gable-roofed chimney tops. The ornamentation on Mission style
houses is usually minimal, and confined to niches, overdoors, or
hoods surfaced with barrel tile, and occasionally a decorated
architrave surrounding the main entrance. The front door is
often of heavy wood with wrought iron hardware.
MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL :
The Mediterranean Revival houses are similar to the
Mission style homes, but generally have a more regular plan. A
single house may combine a flat roof and parapet with gabled,
hipped and shed roofs. Mediterranean Revival residences have
more ornamentation, and add wrought iron balconies, towers and
turrets.
FRAME VERNACULAR :
Most Frame Vernacular houses are rectangular, an
economical shape. West Palm Beach builders often framed
Vernacular houses with Dade County pine, which becomes very hard
and is so resinous that it deters termites. Frame Vernacular houses often have
steep pyramidal roof lines, roof overhangs with exposed rafter
tails, wooden or sheet metal shingles (perhaps later replaced
with asphalt or composition shingles), and dormers for attic
circulation. Many exteriors are covered with horizontal plank
siding, with patterned shingles covering the gables or second
stories. Typically, the shingle patterns and roof brackets,
plus porch railings or columns, are the only decorations.
MID-CENTURY:
Mid-Century Vernacular houses are built of brick or concrete
block and have attached one-car garages or carports. They
feature showcase front windows and front gable or hipped roofs
topped with flat cement tiles. Typical layouts include a split
bedroom plan, a Florida room in the back of the house, and a
rear patio accessed by sliding glass doors. Other windows were
jalousie or aluminum awning windows.
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