Early Vernacular
Early Vernacular | Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
Vernacular architecture is a category of architecture style based on local needs and locally sourced construction materials, reflecting local traditions. Vancouver is home to many Early Vernacular homes, as well as Mid-Century Vernacular homes.
Early Vernacular is an architectural style with roots dated back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, It is the architectural style of Vancouver’s pioneer houses. Three major influences for Vancouver’s Early Vernacular homes are:
- The cottage plans – as published in pattern books by American A.J. Downing in the 1850’s with styles such as Carpenter Gothic with its board and batten exteriors and steeply peaked cottages – appeared in Barkerville and rural B.C.
- Most of the houses in Strathcona and Mount Pleasant were influenced by the standard plan of the English row house of the 19th century, with the only bathroom placed upstairs above the kitchen on the entry side, and the living and dining room on the other side.
- At the turn of the century, “kit” houses – either local pre-fab houses such as the B.C. Mills houses or mail-order kit houses from Eatons and other manufacturers – reflected the most popular plans seen in the pattern books extensively used by builders.
Early Vernacular Architectural Style | Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
Early Vernacular Architectural Style | Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
Similar to Mid Century Vernacular, homes with an Early Vernacular architectural style also feature 1) Gable Roof or 2) Hipped Roof. The unique features of Early Vernacular are 3) Balcony, 4) Bay Window 5) Cladding or Siding, 6) Column, 7) Corbelled Chimney, 8) Double Hung Window, 9) Leaded Glass 10) Light 11) Pane 12)) Porch 13) Shingles and 14) Trim Board.
1. Gable Roof
A pitched roof that ends in a gable (the triangular portion of a wall defined by the sloping edges of the roof and a horizontal line between the eave line).
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
2. 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 square, the hip roof is pointed at the top like a pyramid. When the building is rectangular, the hipped roof forms a ridge at the top.
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
3. Balcony
A balustraded or raised and railed platform projecting from a wall of a building.
Photo Credit: Vancouverheritagefoundation
4. Bay Window
Distinguished through an outward projection from the façade, bay windows are characteristic of Victorian, Edwardian and Queen Anne Revival houses.
Each of these bays may have one or more sash windows, which are traditionally built with a wood frame. Smaller panes of glass divided by glazing bars are generally found within the top sash, while the bottom sash may only have one sheet of glass.
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
5. Cladding or Siding
Cladding is the outermost layer of the wall system, providing resistance to the natural elements and acting as a control device for drainage. Depending on the house style, various kinds of stucco, horizontal and vertical boards may be used as cladding.
Nine types of cladding or siding found in Early Vernacular homes are as followed:
a) Board and Batten Siding
An exterior treatment of vertical boards with battens covering the seams. Battens are thin strips of wood applied vertically.
Board and Batten Siding
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
b) Clapboard Siding
Photo Credit: CreativeHomeOwner
Clapboard Siding | Photo Credit: Colonial Sense
c) Drop Siding – Also known as Cove or Dutch Siding
Siding that has a deep cove at the top which when overlapped exposes a cove or shadow line between courses. Usually with a tongue and groove (or tenoned) upper edge for a flat planked look.
Drop or Cove or Dutch Siding
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
d) Lap Siding
Beveled siding which overlaps on an angle and is wider and longer than Clapboard.
Lap Siding
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
e) Masonry or Stone Siding
A type of siding, the material of which consists of stone, brick, or construction block.
The environmental impact of masonry depends on the type of material used. In general, concrete and concrete based materials are intensive energy materials to produce. However, the long durability and minimal maintenance of masonry sidings mean that less energy is required over the life of the siding.
Masonary or Stone Siding | Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
f) Shakes Siding
Shake siding is made from shakes, which are pieces of wood split from a log. In addition to traditional wooden shakes, it is also possible to find vinyl shakes, which are appealing to people looking for a low maintenance, less costly alternative to wooden shakes.
Shakes Siding | Photo Credit: onthecheapanamericandream.wordpress.com
g) Shingle Siding
Shingles are made by sawing a piece of wood on all sides to cut it to the appropriate size.
Shingles Siding | Photo Credit: imgarcade
h) Shiplap Siding
Shiplap is a type of wooden board used commonly in the construction of barns, sheds, outbuildings and inexpensive or seasonal homes. Useful for its strength as a supporting member, and its ability to form a relatively tight seal when lapped, shiplap is typically used as a type of siding for buildings that do not require extensive maintenance and must withstand cold and aggressive climates.
Shiplap Siding | Photo Credit: hatchetmountainwoods
Shiplap Siding Barn | Photo Credit: hullforest
i) Stucco or Render Siding
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate (sand) and a binder (Portland cement, and water). It is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. Sometimes used on interior walls, and ceilings (called California plaster), it is mainly used on exteriors and can cover less visually appealing construction materials such as concrete, cinder block, or clay brick.
Stucco Siding | Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
6. Column
A supporting post, generally round. In classical orders, the column consists of a base, shaft, and capital.
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
7. Corbelled Chimney
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
A chimney in which the upper portion consists of projecting courses of masonry, each one higher than the other.
8. Double Hung Window
A pair of superimposed wooden sashes that are offset so as to slide up and down within the same frame. A double hung window that has horns on its upper sash are most likely pre World War I.
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
9. Leaded Glass
Decorative glass where each pane is set between cames (slender grooved bars of lead).
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
10. Light
A pane of glass, as in a window light, or the whole sash, as in a skylight.
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
11. Pane
A framed division of a window that is usually filled with a sheet of glass.
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
12. Porch
A covered platform, usually with its own roof, attached to a building, serving as a covered entryway. May be limited to covering the front door area or may extend along the full length of the façade.
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
Photo Credit: VancouverHeritageFoundation
13. Shingles
Placed in an overlapping fashion, shingles can be installed on walls as cladding, or on a roof. Though traditionally wood, shingles are now also made from a wide range of synthetic materials.
Three common types of shingles are as followed:
a) Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt is a petroleum by-product mixed with a granular stone
Photo Credit: companyroofingandexteriors
b) Fishscale Shingles
Photo Credit: KY Treasures I via Flickr
c) Sawtooth Shingles
Photo Credit: 1stchoiceexteriors
14. Trim Board
Wooden boards that are typically used to illustrate the separation between floors and accent other components on the exterior such as windows and doors.
Photo Credit: Vancouverheritagefoundation
Citation: Yin, Eimon. “Early Vernacular – An Architectural Style.” Kristine Krynitzki Real Estate. Kristine Krynitzki Real Estate, 23 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
“Early Vernacular1870 – 1910.” Vancouver Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.
“Vancouver Special1965 – 1985.” Vancouver Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.
“Mid-Century Vernacular1950s.” Vancouver Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.
“Siding.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
McMahon, Mary, and O. Wallace. WiseGeek. Conjecture, 16 Aug. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
“Shiplap.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 Feb. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
Happy Homes N Spaces 