AMERICAN FOURSQUARE
Style Guide
American Foursquare DRAFT FO A RS IC R A E R M E A
S E T LE G ID American Foursquare Style Guide
Table of Contents
American Foursquare (1894-1910) 1
Additional Examples of the Style 2
Building Form and Massing 3
Roof Shape and Materials 3
Cladding 4
Foundation 4
Chimneys 5
Porches and Entryways 5
Railings and Balustrades 5
Windows 6
Awnings 7
Doors 7
Garage Doors 8
Porte-Cochères 8
Decorative Features 9
Lighting 9
Fencing 10 DRAFTPaint Colors 11 AMERICAN FOURSQUARE 4.1 | Page i AMERICAN FOURSQUARE bold text. These
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M A Chapter 5: Additional Resources. Chapter 3: Design Guidelines by Historic District Chapter 3: Design Guidelines Guides Chapter 4: Architectural Style Chapter 5: Additional Resources DRAFT Chapter 1: Purpose, Procedures & Overview Chapter 1: Purpose, Procedures and Repair Chapter 2: Guidelines for Maintenance
The first instance of certain terms throughout the Guidelines are highlighted in Any changes to the exterior of the property must be given prior approval by Historic Preservation must be given prior property the of exterior the to changes Any a Certificatestaff through ofCity other Appropriateness to , and all projects may be subject these guidelines. requirements not listed within recommendations, inspiration, and advice inspiration, and recommendations, as that will part of an instructive framework help By rehabilitation. guide sensitive their nature, and encourage changes to historic properties surrounding the resource, the on depend may outcomes such, As flexible. are guidelines design goals of the proposed project. district, and the in terms are defined in a glossary refer to the other chapters of this document: For additional information, please This section of the Long Beach Historic District Design Guidelines is part of a larger document larger a of Guidelines is part District Design Historic Beach Long the of section This City’s historic districts the for tool planning a as created FO A RS IC R A E R M E A
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i i e e i e ig i AMERICAN FOURSQUARE (1894-1910)
The American Foursquare, sometimes referred to as a Classic Box or Prairie Box, is a sub-style of the Prairie style. The Prairie style was developed around the turn of the century by a group of Chicago architects—including Frank Lloyd Wright—that was later known as the Prairie School. The style is one of the few with distinctly American origins. American Foursquare became a popular residential vernacular style that spread throughout the country in the first decades of the twentieth century.1 American Foursquare houses have hipped symmetrical roofs, like those found on early Prairie houses, but unlike Wright’s later versions, which exhibit asymmetrical hipped roofs.2 Wright’s Prairie houses were designed to reflect the natural beauty of the prairie, with an emphasis on low-slung, horizontal forms and gently sloping roofs. This emphasis on horizontal lines meant that dormers were rarely incorporated in the original Prairie house designs,3 while central, gable-roofed dormers are a defining feature of its vernacular counterpart, American Foursquare.
The American Foursquare was favored by developers in Southern California due to its stylistic simplicity and practicality, and architects in the region would incorporate elements from the Colonial Revival or increasingly popular Craftsman style.4 American Foursquare houses that DRAFT5 draw influence from the Colonial Revival style may also be referred to as Classic Box houses. Examples of American Foursquare architecture in Long Beach are particularly prominent in Drake Park, Willmore City, and Bluff Park. AMERICAN FOURSQUARE 4.1 | Page i AMERICAN FOURSQUARE
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M A Additional Examples of the Style Examples of the Additional DRAFT FO A RS IC R A E R M E A
S E T LE G ID Building Form and Massing
American Foursquare residences are always two stories in height with rectangular, blocky massing. Roof Shape and Materials
American Foursquare houses typically have low-pitched hipped roofs, and almost always have a centralized dormer. Composition, wood, or visually similar shingles in a darker, neutral color would be acceptable for an American Foursquare home. Shingles should not be so dark as black. The shingles should consist of individual Hipped Pyramidal units laid in a traditional, alternating pattern. The eaves are either hipped open with exposed rafter tails, or boxed with brackets, mimicking the appearance of rafter tails.
Wood shingles (left) or a visually similar substitute Composition shingles in an appropriate color, like the above examples, (right) would be acceptable for an American would be acceptable for an American Foursquare residence. Foursquare residence.
Boxed eaves with brackets Boxed eaves with brackets Boxed eaves
Open eaves withDRAFT exposed rafter tails Open eaves with exposed rafter tails Open eaves with exposed rafter tails AMERICAN FOURSQUARE 4.1 | Page 3 AMERICAN FOURSQUARE
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M A Cladding Foundation Horizontal wood clapboards DRAFT The foundation on an American Foursquare is not a focal point of the building. Many foundations building. Many the of point a focal is not Foursquare American an on foundation The as the exterior. are masonry, while others are clad in the same material(s) American Foursquare residences are typically clad in narrow wood clapboards or wood shingles, wood or clapboards wood typically are residences clad in narrow Foursquare American or a combination of both. An American Foursquare may in kind and replaced needed, as repaired maintained, existing material should be The stucco. also be clad in dash or float finish longer feasible. when repair is no FO A RS IC R A E R M E A
S E T LE G ID Chimneys
Chimneys are not a characteristic feature of an American Foursquare; where they exist, they will typically be located on a side elevation and made of masonry.
Porches and Entryways
American Foursquare houses have prominent and highly visible front porches, making the entryway a prominent feature. They are most often centered on the front elevation, though asymmetrical examples exist. The porches often project from the primary volume of the house, and are typically supported by sturdy, turned wood posts.
Railings and Balustrades
Many examples of American Foursquare architecture were derived from pattern books. As the vernacular counterpart to the more formal Prairie style, American Foursquare homes are not heavily ornamented. Simple and sturdy or turned wood railings and balustrades are the most appropriate type of railing for this style. DRAFT AMERICAN FOURSQUARE 4.1 | Page 5 AMERICAN FOURSQUARE muntins. muntins
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art glass O G Paired single-light double-hung Paired single-light double-hung
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Large, fixed windows with geometric muntins or art glass Large, fixed windows with geometric muntins (one-over-one) Single-light double-hung Single-light double-hung DRAFT muntins art an sash for top the or window, the of part upper usually only in the but glass, casements If a window on an American Foursquare requires replacement, it should be replaced in kind, or requires replacement, If a window on an American Foursquare with an option similar below. Windows should be replaced within their original to the examples openings. or awning sash windows, to provide ventilation to the provide ventilation to to sash windows, awning be casement or windows may dormer The attic. American Foursquare houses have rectangular window openings, and may have Craftsman and may window openings, houses have rectangular Foursquare American or Colonial Revival style influences. On the ground floor, theregenerally double-hung is are Operable windows often a large fixed window. muntins, or muntins, there If elevation. front the on symmetrically arranged often windows are The window. operable geometric may feature or multi-light, they may be single or dormer, the are windows in FO A RS IC R A E R M E A
S E T LE G ID Awnings
Awnings are not recommended for American Foursquares because they are not characteristic of the style. Property owners are encouraged to consider other methods of creating shade, such as indoor shutters or window treatments.
Doors
Doors on an American Foursquare home are typically wood paneled with a single pane of glass for partial-glazing. The front door is often flanked by sidelights; however, these features should not be added to doors where they did not exist historically, even though they are compatible with the style. Original doors should always be maintained and repaired as necessary. If repair is no longer feasible, they should be replaced in kind or with a compatible option, like the examples below.
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Garage Doors Garage Wood carriage style garage doors Porte-Cochères Compatible contemporary garage doors doors are encouraged. Contemporary garage doors are available available through are doors garage Contemporary encouraged. are doors DRAFT features these style. Therefore, Foursquare American the of characteristic not are Porte-cochères should not be added, as it would not be a compatible alteration. Compatible garage doors are paneled or paneled or are doors Compatible garage Carriage style various retailers that both mimic the attractive appearance of a carriage style door and operate and style door a carriage of appearance attractive mimic the both that various retailers not but real wood garage doors is electric openers. The use of using convenient encouraged, required. FO A RS IC R A E R M E A
S E T LE G ID Decorative Features
American Foursquare houses rarely have applied ornamentation. Decorative features are generally limited to window shutters and eave brackets. While these features are compatible with the style, adding them where they did not historically exist is not recommended. Original features should be maintained and repaired as necessary.
Wood window shutters Eave brackets
Lighting
Drawing from the Colonial Revival influence, traditional lantern shapes in white or dark metal would be appropriate for a sconce or hanging porch light on an American Foursquare home (top row). For a more Craftsman-inspired American Foursquare, distinctive geometric fixtures would also be appropriate (bottom row). DRAFT AMERICAN FOURSQUARE 4.1 | Page 9 AMERICAN FOURSQUARE
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Fencing M A DRAFT Compatible fencing for an American Foursquare property may consist of a low, wooden or may consist of a low, wooden American Foursquare property an for Compatible fencing or should have voids fence posts. The with traditional, vertically oriented fence iron wrought neutral stained in a light or may be painted fences Wood here. examples shown spaces like the or black. iron should be very dark color, while wrought FO A RS IC R A E R M E A
S E T LE G ID Paint Colors
American Foursquares may be painted in earthy tones reflecting its Prairie style roots, or a crisp color scheme with bright white trim influenced by the Colonial Revival style. The trim, windows, and exterior cladding should typically be painted in different, complimentary colors to provide contrast. Any masonry, such as along the foundation, should not be painted unless there is evidence to suggest it was painted historically.
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