50. 'L'-Shaped Gothic Revival

The 'L'-Shape is one of the most common forms of the Gothic Revival.
Please refer to the following blogs to become acquainted with the many decorative items that mark the Gothic Revival; #2 The Gothic Revival, #16 The Early Gothic Revival, #45 The Baronial Gothic Revival, #30 The Carpenter Gothic and #15 The Bay 'n Gables (which I now believe is the 'H'-Shaped Gothic Revival).































What to look for (clues)

• At least two gables that face the street. There may be other gables on the sides.
  
  
• Lancet (pointed ) windows in these gables.

• Normally a single story projecting bay window (has windows on three sides).

• Fancy gingerbread on the eaves.

• Fancy woodwork on the verandah.

• Finials (a pointed ornament typically used on the highest points of the roof) and/or drops (a hanging ornament or pendant) from the highest points.

Where to find it

• The 'L'-Shaped Gothic Revival abounds throughout Southern Ontario in both rural and older urban settings.
• The main picture is a bed and breakfast in Elmira.
• The other pictures are, in order, Galt (Cambridge), Woodstock and Simcoe.
  

54. Quebec Colonial Revival

Quebec Colonial Revivals are modern copies of homes that originally appeared in the province of Quebec. The originals can still be found in Quebec under the style headings French Colonial and 'Quebec' House.












What to look for (clues)

• A one story house with the longer side facing the road.

• A large, moderately steep gable roof stretches down to the top of the main story (which, itself, may be slightly raised). The edge of the roof may or may not extend outward (bell cast).
  

• Two prominent dormers push through the front roof.

• Most commonly a pair of largish chimneys perches on the peak of the roof on either side or a single chimney that is normally placed directly behind the front entrance.

• The front door is normally centred with a single or double pair of windows on either side.

• A triangular shape (pediment) sometimes appears over the front door.

Where to find it

The Quebec Colonial Revival can be found in both the Maritime Provinces and Ontario.

• The brownstone house at the top ( a type of facing largely unique to the Maritimes) is located in Dorchester, New Brunswick.
• The white house is located in Kitchener and the red brick in Guelph.
• The Quebec Colonial Revival below, with the large addition, is in the village of Blair near Preston (Cambridge).

49. American Colonial Revivals

American Colonial Revival: Kitchener, Ontario

American Colonial Revivals are basically modern copies of homes that once existed along the east coast of the United States. They may have adopted portions from a number of styles that existed in this region; foremost, the Georgian, but also the Cape Cod, Saltbox and others. The American Colonial Revivals were begun around 1900 and exist up to present times.

American Colonial Revival
Kitchener, Ontario









American Colonial Revival
Kitchener, Ontario










What to look for (clues)

• Normally two stories with the longer side facing the road.

• The building is usually symmetrical but not always.
  

• A moderately steep gable roof with one or two largish chimneys perched on the peak of the roof at the side(s).

• Paired dormers are common.

• A triangular shape (pediment) frequently exists over the door.

• A transom window immediately over the door and/or sidebars (vertical windows) are common.

• Exterior finish is usually brick but may be stone or wood.

• On larger homes stone may decorate the windows; forming the lintel (above) and sill (below).

• Drainpipes from the eaves are frequently a further decoration on the facade.

Where to find it

The American Colonial Revival is a popular urban home in Southern Ontario towns and cities. The photos are from Kitchener (1 & 2), Elmira and Woodstock.

American Colonial Revival
Woodstock, Ontario

48. Jacobethan

Two old English styles that possess many similarities are the Jacobean and Elizabethan Revivals. Following the lead of a number of architectural books, I am combining the two and using the name Jacobethan. The style appeared between 1920 and 1940. While not common, the Jacobethan does appear in a number of Southern Ontario cities. (It may appear in other provinces as well, I just haven't come across it.)
















What to look for (clues)

• Unlike the Tudor, the homes are frequently constructed of a single material such as brick, stone and occasionally stucco.

• The structure is large and bulky and contains at least two storys.

• There are steeply pitched roofs with intersecting gables and/or dormers. Huge chimneys may appear at various places including the facade.

• Projected areas may stick out from the front or sides of the house.

• Sets of casement windows and decorative brickwork are common.

Where to find it

The first two buildings are in Brantford, The third is in Stratford. I'm also aware of one in Preston (Cambridge).
If you're looking for homes in Brantford be sure and check Dufferin Avenue, Lorne Crescent and Brant Avenue.
In Preston (Cambridge) visit Queenston Road, Duke Street and William Street.

47. French Provincial

The French Provincial can also be found under the names Canadian Colonial, French Period Revival and French Mansard. The style was brought back from Europe by soldiers returning from and First (1920's) and Second (1960's) World Wars. Interestingly, the style is also making a comeback in wealthy suburbs and rural areas in the 2000's.











What to look for (clues)

• Most homes have an extremely large hip roof or roofs or a smaller mansard roof.

• Second floor windows frequently break through the eaves and have an arched or curved top. Very large homes may have additional dormer windows.

• Main floor multi-paned casement windows often appear in sets of two, three or four.

• Walls are normally stone, brick or stucco.
  

• The style does not use towers.

Where to find it

Many new French Provincials are appearing in the rural areas close to the larger Southern Ontario cities. The examples above are Stratford, Kitchener and Toronto.

46. Victorian Style

I used to scoff and say that there was no such thing as a 'Victorian Style'. Although the term was in common usage, I found that it was normally used by people who did not know the proper name for an old house and called it 'Victorian' as a catch-all. They were pretty safe doing this since Queen Victoria ruled for 64 tumultuous years (1837 - 1901).

Since then I have encountered a small number of spectacular buildings that are clearly of that era, but equally clearly do not belong to any of the identified styles.
The Hochelaga Hotel in Kingston is the best example that I have found, so...I have now swallowed my pride...and identified the building as belonging to the 'Victorian Style'.

45. Baronial Gothic Revival

The Baronial Gothic Revival is a style used to create castles. (In Scotland it became popular during that country's renaissance period where it was dubbed the Scottish Baronial.) Toronto has a wonderful example in Casa Loma. If you were ever fascinated by castles when you were young this is a place (museum) that you must visit. (Your children can probably relate to it if they have been fans of Harry Potter and Hogwarts, the school in a Baronial Gothic Revival castle.)

What to look for (clues)

• The building is massive and built out of stone or brick.

• It has a wide range of features associated with Gothic Revival; multiple chimneys, numerous roofs, crenallated battlements on some roofs (where the soldiers could fire arrows at the attacking enemy), turrets, towers with witch's hats, pointed windows (lancet), rows of rectangular windows, stepped gables, a massive entryway and on and on.

• It's upkeep would be too expensive for anyone that doesn't have numerous millions.

Where to find it

The style is frequently used for government armouries.
St. Marys has one that used to be an opera house many years ago.

44. 'Quebec' House

The 'Quebec House' came into existence in the province of Quebec near the end of the 19th century. The style proved so popular over the years that it seemed to represent the province and hence the unusual name. The one shown here can be found, along with numerous other examples, on I'le d'Orleans, a beautiful island in the St. Lawrence River to the east of Quebec City.

What to look for (clues)

• Symmetrical. Small to medium in size, and raised a little from the ground. The longer side of the rectangle faces the street.
  

• The gable roof is quite large and steep. Dormer windows project through the roof. The roof is normally curved at the eaves (bell cast) to better deal with the snow in the area.

• Central stairs lead to the building-wide covered verandah.

• Large double-casement windows open inward. There may be two or four on the main level. When the house was built, wooden shutters would be employed during the winter to retain the warmth. Nowadays these may be replaced by a second set of windows covering the first.
  

• Walls may be masonry or stonework. Stucco is often applied over the masonry. A wood siding sometimes shields the wall that faces the worst weather.

Modern versions of the 'Quebec' house frequently have beautifully carved and painted frames around the doors and windows. Colours tend to be brighter and more dramatic than those used in Ontario homes.
Some of the verandahs are quite decorative.

Where to find it

As observed earlier the style is quite common in the older areas of Quebec. In addition, you are likely to find examples in the areas of Ontario and New Brunswick that border Quebec.
For some marvelous old Quebec homes, drive along one of the nation's oldest roads, the Avenue Royale, from Quebec City east towards Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre or the 1735 road, Le Chemin du Roy, from Quebec City west to Montreal.

42. Italian Eclectic

An Eclectic House is one which clearly belongs to a specific architectural family, but doesn't mirror the features of one of the 'originals' (e.g. Italian Villa or Italianate).
(During the time period from 1850 - 1900 many Ontario homes 'borrowed' styling elements from existing houses. The Italian Eclectic was one of the most popular choices.)
















What to look for (clues)

• Windows: The main windows will be large with two panes. The top of the upper window will be either an arch (rounded) shape or the frame of the window will have the arch. Commonly there will be vertical bricks above the window frame in an arch form.

• Eaves: The eaves will be wide and supported by large brackets that are often paired.

• Entryways: The entryways vary greatly from house to house. There is no set pattern. Some are extremely elaborate, especially the door portion.

• Polychromed brick of two colours is sometimes used as a decorative element.

• There may be cupolas on the roof.

• There are normally shutters on all the large windows.

Where to find it

A very large number of Ontario houses have some of the above styling clues. I hope to sort these out into further style names at a later date.

43. Vernacular - Attic Gable Style # 1

A 'Vernacular Style' is one where a significant number of nearly identical homes (which may be an offshoot of a major style or unrelated to anything) appears in two or three areas of a city or region. The style 'may' be copied in other places, but it's not likely to be in large numbers.
The home dubbed 'Attic Gable Style # 1' (1900 - 1920) fits this category and can be found in older regions of the twin cities of Kitchener and Waterloo.

What to look for (clues)

• There is normally a verandah that covers either 1/2 or all of the facade on the main level.

• Above the verandah are 3 gables set on different planes and usually of different sizes. They all face towards the street.

• The frontmost gable often has a side door that leads to a small balcony.

• Side gables also exist as part of the roof.

• (There is another type of Vernacular Attic Style # 2 that exists in the area as well. It involves a massive single gable that almost overwhelms the building.)

Where to find it

I have found other single examples in other urban centers in the Waterloo Region.
The example shown above could be considered part of the Queen Anne family of houses.

0-2 Identifying Housing Styles

3) I was recently bedeviled by a new publication
by a very respected writer who identified some
houses with style names that are at odds with
other publications over the last few years. In one
particular case another Guelph house, that had
been used as the finest example of a Regency
house, was named as possessing a totally
different style !
4) And, sometimes, to add further to the confusion,
smaller houses of some styles have been enlarged
into a totally different style.
[Above: A Tudor in Kitchener.]

[Left: Art Moderne in Quebec City.]



The identification of building styles is very contentious and despite all my research I know that sometimes I am going to make mistakes. Rather than junk years of work, I am going to proceed by applying the names that I feel most aptly reflect the building styles. I will also happily add the names used by other writers.
I will, in addition, attempt to refine some of the more generic terms, like Tudor, into identifiable groups (e.g. Medieval English Cottage, Jacobethan, Edwardian, Queen Anne, etc.).

0-1. Identifying Housing Styles

What Style Is That ?

Winston Churchill once described the U.S.S.R. as follows, "Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". That would pretty much sum up the the situation regarding the identification of housing styles as well. Let me give you some examples.
1) A surprising number of people, who should often know otherwise, use generic names to apply to homes that actually have much more specific names. Examples of this vagueness might be; Victorian, Gothic, Tudor, Gothic Revival, Neoclassical, Italian , English and Venacular (local).
[This is a Second Empire from Annapolis Royal
Nova Scotia.]

2) There is much disagreement among architectural writers
about the proper names for various styles. I know a house in
Guelph that has been identified as (1) Queen Anne,
(2) Richardson Romanesque and (3) Baronial Queen Anne by
three esteemed authors.
[This is a Federal house in Woodstock.]

1-1 Historical Georgians

The Georgian is the only style where I can show some very, old, surviving examples.

I can't give you a date for this large, stone Georgian. It is located not far from the St. Lawrence River on one of Canada's oldest roads leading out from Quebec City. Note the exceedingly steep gable roof needed to keep the snow off





In 1797 a New Hampshire farmer moved to Bath, Ontario (west of Kingston) and built this house. Today it's a museum.










It's called the 'Battlefield House' in Stoney Creek.
On 06 June 1813 an American army was camped beside this Georgian home. From this position a smaller British army swept down the hill at night, captured all the American officers and drove off the invaders.








This 1800 Georgian, residing along the Niagara Parkway to the north of Niagara-on-the-Lake, had also been seized by American forces in the same war. Although damaged by the enemy, it was rebuilt and is now a museum.

1. The Georgian Style

Most early Canadian pioneers (with the exception of those who settled Quebec) initially built log homes.Once they became settled, in the late 1700's and early 1800's, they desired something a little more substantial and functional for their large families. Thus began the first of the formal styles found in Canada, the Georgian. The name originated from the period of English history when England was ruled by a succession of kings named George.

What to look for (clues)

• Rectangular in shape with the wide side facing the road.

• Normally* very balanced or symmetrical.

• A gable roof** (inverted 'V') on the two sides.

• Original Canadian versions were very plain.

• 5 windows (second story) over 4 windows (main floor)

The exception to the rule. This Georgian Mennonite at West Montrose (near the only 'used' covered bridge in Ontario) is definitely asymmetrical.










While this Ottawa Georgian shows the other roof style (hip) sometimes used by older Georgians. Note the tiny window panes that were the original size due to the cost of glass.


Where to find it


As with numerous other housing styles, there are larger and smaller versions. The example at the top is the basic, common version. The Georgian is found nearly anywhere in rural and urban settings. Not only has it never gone out of style, modern versions are presently replacing other styles in our most expensive suburbs!

Architectural 'Time Periods' for Eastern Canada

• ONTARIO - anything built before 1800 is very old and rare.

• QUEBEC - still has buildings that were constructed in the 1600's! Buildings from the 1700's are common.
  

• NOVA SCOTIA and NEW BRUNSWICK - some buildings exist from the 1700's.
  

41. The Shingle Style

An off-shoot of the adventurous Queen Anne style, the New England Shingle Style is a large, plain, comfortable house that tries to blend in with its natural surroundings.

What to look for (clues)

• At least 50% of the house is covered by unpainted cedar shingles.

• If the main floor is not shingled, it will be comprised of stone or some other natural material.

• The large roof is frequently the gambrel (barn) style and is met by a few steep gable roofs. A large chimney at the front of the house often pierces the roof.

• A portion of the house may be rounded at one end, instead of possessing the normal corners.

• There is usually a substantial verandah at the front of the house. Sometimes it sweeps around the entire house.

Where to find it

The style tends to be rare in Ontario, although this one exists in Woodstock, Ontario. (Woodstock, especially Vansittart Avenue, has an excellent selection of housing styles.) Perhaps not surprisingly, the style is more common in the Maritimes. I know of a single street in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, that has three such houses.

40. Alpine Chalets

The Alpine Chalet was originally designed for a climate with cold winters and surprisingly warm summers. Vast quantities of snow was expected and provided insulation for the roof.
Large wooden beams were very popular for the interior.
Not a common style but it appears in surprising places. (This one is in Waterloo, Ontario.)

What to look for (clues)

• The dominating feature is the vast sweeping roof with wide eaves and a few very large supporting brackets.

• The house itself is broad and almost seems to squat on the landscape.

• A wooden 2nd story balcony with cut-out patterns is normal.

• The portion of the facade immediately under the roof may have a wood facing.

• Sometimes the upper story is covered in stucco with shallow wooden 'beams' attached over the top.

Where to find it

I don't have a time period for this style, but most of the ones I've seen would have been constructed after the Second World War.
There is a greater likelihood of finding the style if a number of the local population originally came from the Alpine Region of Europe.

39. Small Georgian

While the standard Georgian made excellent sense for people with larger families, others chose to build a smaller version that possessed most of the same style points. Let's start with a home on Minister's Island, New Brunswick, that can only be reached when the tide is out! If it looks a little shopworn, it's because it has been sitting here since 1797!

What to look for (clues)

• Rectangular in shape (with the wide side facing the road).

• Very symmetrical.

• A gable roof on the sides.

• Original versions were very plain.

• There are many stone Georgians, both 'normal' and small, west of Waterloo, Ontario. The exteriors may also be of brick or wood.

Where to find it

Georgians appear in large numbers throughout the eastern half of Canada. The home with the verandah is in Kitchener. The small stone Georgian is found east of Stratford.







Time Periods
Ontario - anything before 1800 is very old and rare.
Quebec - there are buildings from the 1600's.
The 1700's are common.
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick - Buildings from the 1700's are around.

38. Edwardian # 1 - Main Form

The Edwardian style was named after Queen Victoria's eldest son who assumed the throne in 1901. The style was popular from approximately 1900 to 1930.
These large homes can be found in the wealthy sections of large towns or cities.

What to look for (clues)

• Large, squarish houses of 2 1/2 to 3 storys. Most use a dark red brick.

• Large paned, sash windows, topped by an unmoveable, small glass transom that's often filled with patterned, coloured glass.

• Large portico or verandah supported by (usually paired) small columns on top of brick or stone piers. The verandah may have a gently arched roof.

• A large brick, central, roof dormer complete with two or three windows.

• Window decorations often include horizontal stone lintels and windowsills above and below the windows.

Where to find it

The 'Main' Edwardian is fairly common. Some areas of Toronto possess many. The house pictured here is in Kingston (a wonderful city to 'mine' for architectural homes).
The Edwardian is confusing in the fact that I know of three similarly large Edwardian forms that are quite different from the 'main' version.

37. French Colonial / Plantation House

This style (the only colonial style originating in North America) followed the French settlers along the St.Lawrence River, then, with the French explorers, down the Mississippi River and along the Gulf of Mexico.
The style became very popular in the U.S. South East from 1760 to 1815. It served as the main house for many plantations (sadly with the accompaniment of slave shacks). Due to flooding in the area, the bottom story was usually maintained for storage purposes.

What to look for (clues)

• These are large buildings with a second floor that has a deep, shaded verandah that extends all around the house.
  

• There's a fairly steep gable roof with protruding dormers.

• Paired French doors at the front and back (sometimes with transoms) allow the wind to sweep away the heat of the day.

• A wide central staircase or pair of staircases (one at each end) leads to the gallery on the second floor. (The 2nd floor was also above most of the flying bugs!)

• Vertical board shutters on strap hinges can cover the glass when storms approach.

Where to find it

The beautiful version shown here is in Aylmer, Quebec, near Ottawa. It is presently being used as a museum.
One of my favourite examples was near the coast in Pensacola, Florida. Although it had survived numerous hurricanes, two particularly brutal storms hit the area since I last visited. I feel it is always a tragedy when one of the historic veterans is destroyed.

36. 'The English Style'

This English house style began appearing in the Quebec City area some time after the British conquest of New France around 1760. It later spread to some of the English-speaking provinces but remains rare outside of Quebec.

What to look for (clues)

• The house is built at street level usually touching the sidewalk. You must go down 2 or 3 steps to reach the centered main doorway. There is a large window on each side of the door.

• A verandah runs the width of the second floor but (originally) provided no access to the ground.

• There are 4 large openings on the 2nd floor. One is a doorway to the verandah. This door is not above the main lower entrance, making the building asymmetrical.

• The roof is a hip-style, but the front and rear portions have been elongated. This creates a ridge where the roofs meet. Two dormer windows appear on the front section. Two large chimneys are on either side of the back section.

• The large windows are double casements and swing inward

Where to find it

There are 4 examples along Avenue Royal in Beauport, a city adjoining Quebec City. This area is 'a gold mine' for people interested in architecture. Beauport, alone, has identified 677 historical homes!
To my complete astonishment, the house shown here exists in Elora, Ontario!

35. The Italianate - # 2

The second type of Italianate is very prominent in many Ontario cities. These buildings have great dignity and whisper a quiet wealth. They vary considerably in their adornments.

What to look for (clues)

• A large rectangular or square building of brick or stone.

• Symmetrical.

• Shallow hip roof (usually without a cupola).

• Large eaves with heavy brackets.

• A portion of the facade projects forward. In the vast majority of cases this is the center third of the facade. Generally, this projected area is topped by a small gable that breaks the roof line. Identical two-story bay windows may also exist.

• With the exception of the bay windows, Italianate windows are usually slightly arched at the top. If not the windows, the casing or vertical bricks above the windows will possess the arch.

• The entryway is often given great prominence in the form of a columned porch. This normally includes a balcony on top of the porch. Some of architecture's most dramatic doors appear on these houses.

Where to find it

The Italianate - # 2 is usually an urban style.
The examples shown are in Perth.

34. The Italianate - # 1

The Italianate has been an important and common building in Ontario. Since there are two rather distinct shapes, I have chosen to divide them into Italianate # 1 and Italianate # 2. Although they share many of the same decorative touches, there are also some distinct differences.

Italianate # 1 tends to resemble a cube, frequently with a cupola balanced on the top (which reminds me of a wedding cake!)

What to look for (clues)

• The building is quite large and immensely solid with its square facade.

• Very symmetrical.

• Often has a shallow, hip roof (4-sided) with a flat spot in the center that sports a cupola or belvedere.

• Large eaves are supported by heavy brackets frequently seen in pairs.

• The second story windows can be very ornate.

• The facade commonly has large bay windows extending outward on both sides of the entryway.

• When properly painted in a variety of colours the effect is quite dramatic.

Where to find it

Generally the Italianate # 1 appears in an urban setting in an older and wealthier section of a large town or city. The building shown here is now a museum and contains much of its original house furniture. It is well worth visiting it in Baden, Ontario.

33. Arts and Crafts

The Arts and Crafts movement began in England, almost as a reaction to the frivolous, machine-made ornamentations being wantonly applied to many Victorian-era homes.
American architects expanded the idea. Their emphasis was on quality, natural products and craftsmanship. It was an 'upgrade' of the popular Bungalow.
Elegant Japanese and Swiss homes were influences.

What to look for (clues)

• Natural products of wood, stone and brick dominate. The walls may appear quite rustic in appearance.

• Low-pitched roofs and structural materials (beams) extending from inside to outside the house. Sometimes the outer portions of the beams are fake.

• A sprawling, horizontal format. Series of narrow, vertical (and occasionally horizontal) windows are common.

• There is an emphasis on welcoming entrances and usable balconies.

• The style existed mainly from 1888 to 1925.

Where to find it

The Arts and Crafts homes are quiet in demeanor and don't stand out. You'll find them with homes built in the time period noted above.
This particular house was built in Waterloo, Ontario in 1923.