Architecture Front Elevation Styles

The built environment is a diverse and fascinating collection of architectural styles that have evolved over time, influenced by various factors such as geography, climate, and cultural preferences. Here is a simplified overview of 15 popular architectural styles throughout history:

Classical Architecture

Classical architecture is a style that emphasizes balance and harmony. It uses columns with different decorative designs called Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian.
The buildings are often made of materials like marble, brick, or concrete. Inside, you’ll find special decorative mouldings, roofs that aren’t too steep, eaves that are neatly boxed, and fancy door frames. Sometimes, the entry door has a special triangular shape above it called a broken pediment. Overall, classical architecture has a timeless and elegant look.

Neo-Classical Architecture Elevations

neo-Classical-elevations

Neoclassical architecture is a style of buildings that became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a revival of Classical Greek and Roman architecture from long ago. In this style, the whole building, not just specific parts, was designed to look like classical structures.
It often featured grand and large-scale designs, with columns that had details like Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian styles.
Neoclassical buildings aimed to capture the grandeur and elegance of the ancient world. architecture front elevation styles

Greek Revival Architecture

Greek Revival Elevation

In America, when our democracy was still young, we took inspiration from ancient Greece, the birthplace of democracy, to design our buildings. We borrowed elements from classical architecture, like columns with different details called Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian. These columns were painted white to imitate the marble used in ancient Greece.
The roofs of our buildings had a gentle slope and a front part called a gable. The doorways were decorated with fancy designs. Inside the buildings, the layout was simple and open.
The rooms had tall windows and doors on the main floor. The ceilings had intricate plasterwork, while the walls were plain plaster. architecture front elevation styles
The floors were made of wide planks, and there were decorative mantels on the ceilings. These features added a touch of elegance to our buildings.

Industrial Architecture

When we talk about industrial architecture today, we are mostly talking about buildings that were made in response to the use of new materials like metal and concrete and the mass production methods that became popular during the Second Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These buildings played a significant role in shaping what we now call Modern Architecture.

Industrial architecture typically has some distinct features:

Large, open spaces inside the buildings with plenty of room for various activities.
High ceilings give a sense of spaciousness. architecture front elevation styles
They use raw and rough materials such as concrete, brick, and metal in their construction.
The building facades often have a simple and straightforward design without many decorative elements.
You might see exposed brick, ductwork, and piping, usually not hidden behind walls.
Windows in these buildings are often large and made of metal grids.

Bauhaus Architecture

Bauhaus buildings have a simple and practical design approach. They focus on functionality rather than decorative details.
They use basic geometric shapes like triangles, squares, and circles. They often have an asymmetrical layout, which means they don’t look exactly the same on both sides. Bauhaus buildings use modern materials like steel, glass, and concrete. They typically have flat roofs and large walls made of glass, known as glass curtain walls.
The exteriors are usually smooth and clean. architecture front elevation styles

The Bauhaus movement evolved into what is known as the International Style when its key members moved to the United States in the 1930s.
It later influenced the development of modernism in the 1950s and 1960s. Even today, Bauhaus architecture and design principles continue to inspire the shape and appearance of everyday objects.