Mid Century Vernacular
Mid Century Vernacular
Vernacular architecture is a category of architecture based on local needs and locally sourced construction materials, reflecting local traditions. Vancouver is home to many Mid Century Vernacular homes.
As the name suggests, Mid Century Vernacular was a popular architectural style during the 1950s. With the economic pressures of WWII, builders looked to simple wide lot house plans using inexpensive materials.
Mid Century Vernacular
Mid Century Vernacular
Mid Century Vernacular
Typical features of a mid century vernacular homes include 1) Asphalt or Duroid Roofing, 2) Cross-gable Roof, 3) Hipped Roof, 4) Assymetrical front façade, 5) Front Stairs, 6) Lap Siding, 7) Picture Window and 8) Screen Door.
1) Asphalt or Duroid Roofing
A hard-wearing shingle roofing material composed of petroleum by-products mixed with a granular stone.
Photo Credit: Home Depot
2) Cross-gable Roof
A roof type in which the major gables intersect at the ridge line, with a major open gable projecting from the façade.
3) Hipped Roof
A hip (or hipped) roof slopes down to the eaves on all four sides. Although a hip roof has no gable ends, it may have dormers or connecting wings with gables. When the building is rectangular, the hipped roof forms a ridge at the top. [See an image on the left below.] When the building is square, the hip roof is pointed at the top like a pyramid. [See an image on the right below.]
Photo Credit: Vancouver Heritage Home
4) Asymmetrical Façade (Front)
The front or principal elevation of a building is not the same on either end of the house, which depending on the house style, may vary in degree of stylistic detail.
5) Front Stairs
The front stairs provide easy access to the home through the use of treads and risers. Staircases are found in a number of configurations on the façade in response to accessibility and style.
6) Lap Siding
Beveled siding which overlaps on an angle and is wider and longer than Clapboard.
Photo Credit: Toronto General Construction
7) Picture Window
A large horizontal single light window placed on the front wall of the living room.
8) Screen Door
Consisting of a framed netting that allows for ventilation and prevents bugs from entering the home.
Mid Century Vernacular usually comes in 3 different forms:
- Bungalow
- Split Level
- Raised Ranch
1. Bungalow
Mid Century Vernacular 1950 – Bungalow | Photo Credit: Victoria Blog
- Simple side gables or hipped roof
- 1 main floor (2-3 bedrooms) with partially sunken basement
- Main Floor: Exterior built with Stucco (also known as Render) which is a material made of an aggregate (sand) and a binder (Portland cement, and water) and can cover less visually appealing construction materials such as concrete, cinder block, or clay brick.
- Basement: wide lapped siding
- Generally rectangular, asymmetrical front façade
- One large “picture window” usually in the living room
- Generally no attached garage
Details
- “L” shaped layout for living room, dining room and kitchen.
- Bathrooms clustered together back to back
- Few windows on side elevations.
- Chimney usually on side exterior wall rather than interior.
Materials
- Wide lapped siding sometimes appearing in the open gable above front roofline.
- Roofs are usually asphalt, chimney brick masonry.
- Windows and doors have minimal wood trim.
- Shutters are not operational and used to bracket oversized windows.
2. Split Level
Mid Century Vernacular 1950 – Split Level | Photo Credit: Kijiji
- Asymmetrical massing
- Main floor: entry/living/dining/kitchen layout
- A floor a half flight above the main floor: bedrooms
- A floor a half flight below the main floor: basement
- Family room and sometimes a garage placed a half flight below the main floor and directly under the bedrooms.
- Hipped or cross gable two level roof form.
Details
- “L” shaped living room, dining room kitchen layout.
- Large picture window in living room.
- Masonry chimney on side wall.
- Sliding glass doors to rear deck/patio off dining room.
- Stairs run parallel to street, half flight up and half flight down.
- Rarely, back to front split level has the main floor in front on the house and two level at the rear.
Materials
- Wide lap siding covers the basement level and up to the floor line on the main floor.
- Stucco is used on the main and upper floors.
- Stucco (also known as Render) which is a material made of an aggregate (sand) and a binder (Portland cement, and water) and can cover less visually appealing construction materials such as concrete, cinder block, or clay brick.
- Roofs are usually asphalt, chimney and foundation work are brick or stone masonry. Sometimes brick masonry replaced the lap siding and matches the chimney.
3. Raised Ranch
Mid Century Vernacular 1950 – Raised Ranch | Photo Credit: BestHomesBC
- The main floor consists of the living and bedrooms raised up one storey from grade.
- Entry is either on grade or split level.
- Roofline runs parallel to the street, usually with open side gables.
- Garage/car port incorporated into basement level with front access.
Details
- “L” shaped layout for living room, dining room, kitchen.
- Bedrooms on upper level with windows having a higher raised sill on the front façade (one exposure only).
- Balanced by living room picture window.
- Masonry chimney on side wall.
- Usually carport underneath living room.
Materials
- Lap siding on both floors or masonry on lower level façade.
- Stucco on main level with masonry or siding on lower level.
- Roof asphalt or tar and gravel on low pitched roofs.
- Minimal wood trim around metal framed doors and windows.
- Chimney are usually brick masonry.
- Double doors common on split level entries.
Citation: “Mid Century Vernacular 1950s.” Vancouver Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
“Vernacular Architecture.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.
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