American Homes

An eccentric, otherworldly guide to the domestic spaces Americans inhabit

American Homes is the classic work of American house architecture. From the Dutch colonial, to the New England Salt Box, to the 1950s prefab, this unrivaled reference and useful guide to 103 building styles pays homage to our country's housing heritage. American Homes opens the window onto the rich landscape of all the places we call home. Award-winning architect Lester Walker examines hundreds of styles of homes—more than any other survey of American domestic architecture—and helps us understand the history of each style, why it developed as it did, and the practical and historical reasons behind its shape, size, material, ornament, and plan. Hundreds of sequenced drawings illustrate the evolution of our most beloved housing styles, like the colonial English Cottage, which grows before our eyes from a simple square of posts and beams to a fully constructed home with hand-split cedar clapboards and an intricately thatched roof. There's also the Italianate, whose roof displays its intricate carved brackets and is topped with a cupola that serves to filter light to the interior of the home. Annotated floor plans offer insight into the structure of these homes, and with it, a good measure of inspiration. No wrought-iron railing, white stucco wall, or gingerbread gable goes neglected. Every idiosyncratic detail and decoration of each of these uniquely American designs is delicately drawn. American Homes is the perfect reference for enthusiasts of architecture, history, and American studies. It is also the ideal inspiration for anyone who lives in or dreams of living in a classic American home.

Explore the great variety of the first peoples of America through a look at traditional homes, from longhouses to teepees, to adobe villages. Correlated to the Informational Text Standards from the Common Core, readers glean a look at America's first homes, with high quality photographs and key text features.

Most native peoples live in modern homes today, but years ago, they lived in vastly different dwellings. These inventive buildings were constructed of available natural resources, such as wood, grass, and adobe bricks, without the use of machinery we rely on today. Readers will appreciate the vivid photographs that accompany the interesting text and surprising fact boxes in this indispensable volume, beneficial to any elementary social studies classroom.

The state of Florida has a rich history of African Americans who have contributed to the advancement and growth of today. From slaves to millionaires, African Americans from all walks of life resided in cabins, homes, and stately mansions. The lives of millionaires, educators, businessmen, community leaders, and innovators in Florida's history are explored in each residence. Mary McLeod Bethune, A.L. Lewis, and D.A. Dorsey are a few of the prominent African Americans who not only resided in the state of Florida but also created opportunities for other blacks to further their lives in education and ownership of property and to have a better quality of life. One of the most humanistic traits found in history is the home of someone who has added something of value to society. Today, some of these residences serve as house museums, community art galleries, cultural institutions, and monuments that interpret and share the legacy of their owners.

William T. Baker's work is inspired by the bounty of classical architecture found in the grand homes of the southern United States, particularly the state of Georgia. The hallmarks of his architecture are extraordinary attention to details of craftsmansh

Houses in trees, houses on water, houses with wheels! America is a country of diverse people who live in all types of homes--homes made of wood, metal, glass, even snow! In the desert, on a farm, or by the beach, American houses have only one thing in common--they provide shelter and comfort to those who live in them. No matter the size, shape, or location, they are places to call home. This alphabetical survey spans over three centuries of architecture. Vivid illustrations and simple, informative text introduce young readers to the limitlessness of the American imagination. Readers will not only learn about a variety of houses, from yurts to pueblos to farmhouses, but about the variety of people who inhabit them.