Knowledge

American Foursquare

Source 📝

36: 224: 101: 383: 93: 191:, bathroom and bedroom; while on the other side, bedroom, stairway and bedroom. The upstairs bathroom would generally be placed above the kitchen, so that the plumbing could run directly from one to the other. The bedrooms had a slightly longer dimension along the front and back of the house with side-by-side 242:
As with other styles in streetcar suburbs, it was tailored to relatively narrow lots, and was multi-story, allowing more square footage on a smaller footprint. The American Foursquare style is occasionally revived in new developments, although its appeal is as a "traditional-looking" style rather
135:
and other Revival styles popular throughout the last half of the 19th century, the American Foursquare was plain, often incorporating handcrafted "honest" woodwork (unless purchased from a mail-order catalog). This architectural vernacular incorporates elements of the
309:. When one was ordered, it came in a boxcar with a book of directions and all the parts pre-cut and numbered for self-assembly. These homes are particularly common in neighborhoods near rail-lines built in this era. The largest mail-order house catalog companies were 270:. Unlike other houses of the style, Wright's versions featured more open main floor plans achieved by removing or minimizing partitions between the entry, living room, and dining room. He in turn inspired other Prairie School architects, such as 147:
The hallmarks of the vernacular include a basically square, boxy design, two-and-one-half stories high, usually with four large, boxy rooms to a floor (with the exception of the attic floor, which typically has only one or two rooms), a center
288:
Later Foursquares often had the same type of interiors as bungalows, with open floor plans, many built-ins, and fireplaces. Many examples are trimmed with tiled roofs, cornice-line brackets, or other details drawn from Craftsman,
231:
Foursquare houses may be built with a variety of materials, including bricks and wood frames. Later models include built-in shelves and other amenities. Large tracts of these homes exist in older
195:
between the bedrooms. This gave a very efficient layout, with a bedroom in each corner and a centralized bathroom and stairway. The top floor was generally just a big open space with one to four
415: 1019: 592: 156:
with wide stairs. The boxy shape provides a maximum amount of interior room space, to use a small city lot to best advantage. Other common features included a
954: 243:
than a fully authentic one, often including modern two-car attached garages and other features absent in originals, and typically built on larger lots.
612: 387: 17: 408: 251:
The American Foursquare or "Prairie Box" was a post-Victorian style, which shared many features with the Prairie architecture pioneered by
401: 1207: 1115: 1217: 468: 277:
Other variations on the American Foursquare emerged regionally during the first decades of the 20th century. In Kansas City, the
1212: 493: 747: 281:-style emerged, with a brick or limestone first floor and siding-wrapped second and third floors. The style is named for the 478: 1080: 334: 1155: 680: 483: 705: 695: 215:, exhausting to a chimney running upwards through the center of the house, which also provided exhaust for the stove. 1065: 424: 79: 57: 50: 1165: 1135: 752: 290: 1125: 737: 1075: 460: 1145: 1120: 685: 675: 670: 498: 96:
A wood-frame American Foursquare house in Minnesota with dormer windows on each side and a large front porch
1130: 1090: 742: 710: 263: 258:
During the early 1900s and 1910s, Wright even designed his own variations on the Foursquare, including the
1140: 1105: 1095: 715: 569: 267: 828: 757: 700: 617: 559: 335:"National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Dougherty-Prospect Heights Historic District" 1160: 1110: 1100: 813: 536: 531: 278: 352: 720: 587: 232: 124: 44: 1150: 1085: 1070: 1055: 833: 660: 564: 541: 208: 1060: 798: 778: 579: 132: 61: 1222: 1186: 1181: 924: 884: 271: 105: 904: 645: 597: 526: 294: 259: 368: 8: 848: 808: 690: 665: 450: 314: 306: 160:, arched entries between common rooms, built-in cabinetry, and Craftsman-style woodwork. 164: 803: 788: 650: 639: 310: 252: 141: 838: 503: 393: 984: 879: 783: 282: 236: 488: 127:
style popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. A reaction to the ornate and
969: 727: 602: 443: 223: 137: 1201: 994: 989: 909: 899: 128: 100: 979: 818: 773: 473: 1029: 1014: 964: 914: 732: 607: 172: 168: 1004: 959: 843: 521: 353:"KC Dwellings: Shirtwaist homes put a local imprint on a classic style" 1009: 949: 894: 823: 793: 874: 635: 204: 184: 176: 157: 929: 889: 305:
The Foursquare was a popular mail-order era style along with the
188: 180: 1039: 999: 853: 382: 212: 196: 192: 149: 92: 1034: 974: 939: 934: 919: 869: 438: 200: 187:
was also included. Second floor, front to back, on one side,
153: 1024: 944: 274:, to design similar Foursquares in the following decades. 144:
styles. It is also sometimes called Transitional Period.
423: 227:
An advertisement for a Sears Roebuck foursquare house
175:; while on the other side, the entry room or foyer, 350: 203:, whether finished into living space or not. The 1199: 207:generally contained a large natural convection 409: 123:) is an American house vernacular under the 351:Billhartz Gregorian, Cynthia (2014-11-08). 416: 402: 80:Learn how and when to remove this message 222: 99: 91: 43:This article includes a list of general 167:, from front to back, on one side, the 14: 1200: 239:, but the design was used everywhere. 163:A typical design would be as follows: 397: 266:", and several two-story models for 29: 24: 235:urban neighborhoods, particularly 49:it lacks sufficient corresponding 25: 1234: 425:Architecture of the United States 375: 300: 1208:American Foursquare architecture 388:American Foursquare architecture 381: 34: 18:American Foursquare architecture 1218:American Craftsman architecture 738:Sarasota School of Architecture 344: 327: 283:higher-waisted women's fashion 13: 1: 1213:American architectural styles 863:Building types and vernacular 320: 264:A Fireproof House for $ 5000 7: 268:American System-Built Homes 10: 1239: 829:New Classical architecture 461:Colonial and post-colonial 246: 1174: 1048: 862: 766: 626: 578: 552: 514: 459: 431: 218: 748:Spanish Colonial Revival 588:Richardsonian Romanesque 104:Wegeforth-Wucher house, 369:The American Foursquare 64:more precise citations. 681:Dutch Colonial Revival 228: 108: 97: 925:Hall and parlor house 885:Central-passage house 706:Mediterranean Revival 432:Native and indigenous 272:Walter Burley Griffin 226: 106:Burlingame, San Diego 103: 95: 905:Critical regionalism 598:American Renaissance 390:at Wikimedia Commons 295:Mission architecture 260:Robert M. Lamp House 152:, and a large front 117:American Four Square 753:Territorial Revival 696:International style 666:California bungalow 656:American Foursquare 307:California bungalow 291:Italian Renaissance 113:American Foursquare 804:Mid-century modern 651:American Craftsman 640:Streamline Moderne 253:Frank Lloyd Wright 229: 109: 98: 1195: 1194: 767:Post–World War II 479:Colonial Georgian 386:Media related to 237:streetcar suburbs 199:, essentially an 121:American 4 Square 90: 89: 82: 16:(Redirected from 1230: 1166:Washington, D.C. 784:Deconstructivism 686:Georgian Revival 676:Colonial Revival 629:mid-20th century 553:Mid-19th century 499:Spanish Colonial 418: 411: 404: 395: 394: 385: 361: 360: 357:Kansas City Star 348: 342: 341: 339: 331: 131:elements of the 85: 78: 74: 71: 65: 60:this article by 51:inline citations 38: 37: 30: 21: 1238: 1237: 1233: 1232: 1231: 1229: 1228: 1227: 1198: 1197: 1196: 1191: 1170: 1044: 858: 762: 711:Mission Revival 628: 622: 574: 548: 510: 494:German Colonial 489:French Colonial 455: 427: 422: 378: 365: 364: 349: 345: 337: 333: 332: 328: 323: 303: 249: 221: 125:Arts and Crafts 86: 75: 69: 66: 56:Please help to 55: 39: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1236: 1226: 1225: 1220: 1215: 1210: 1193: 1192: 1190: 1189: 1184: 1178: 1176: 1172: 1171: 1169: 1168: 1163: 1158: 1153: 1148: 1143: 1138: 1133: 1128: 1123: 1118: 1113: 1108: 1103: 1098: 1093: 1088: 1083: 1078: 1073: 1068: 1063: 1058: 1052: 1050: 1046: 1045: 1043: 1042: 1037: 1032: 1027: 1022: 1017: 1012: 1007: 1002: 997: 992: 987: 982: 977: 972: 970:Platform mound 967: 962: 957: 952: 947: 942: 937: 932: 927: 922: 917: 912: 907: 902: 897: 892: 887: 882: 877: 872: 866: 864: 860: 859: 857: 856: 851: 846: 841: 836: 831: 826: 821: 816: 811: 806: 801: 796: 791: 786: 781: 776: 770: 768: 764: 763: 761: 760: 755: 750: 745: 740: 735: 730: 728:Prairie School 725: 724: 723: 716:Pueblo Revival 713: 708: 703: 698: 693: 688: 683: 678: 673: 671:Chicago School 668: 663: 658: 653: 648: 643: 632: 630: 624: 623: 621: 620: 615: 610: 605: 600: 595: 590: 584: 582: 576: 575: 573: 572: 570:Gothic Revival 567: 562: 556: 554: 550: 549: 547: 546: 545: 544: 534: 529: 524: 518: 516: 515:Early Republic 512: 511: 509: 508: 507: 506: 496: 491: 486: 484:Dutch Colonial 481: 476: 471: 465: 463: 457: 456: 454: 453: 448: 447: 446: 435: 433: 429: 428: 421: 420: 413: 406: 398: 392: 391: 377: 376:External links 374: 373: 372: 363: 362: 343: 325: 324: 322: 319: 302: 301:Mail-order era 299: 248: 245: 220: 217: 183:. Sometimes a 138:Prairie School 88: 87: 42: 40: 33: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1235: 1224: 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1211: 1209: 1206: 1205: 1203: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1179: 1177: 1173: 1167: 1164: 1162: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1152: 1149: 1147: 1146:San Francisco 1144: 1142: 1139: 1137: 1134: 1132: 1129: 1127: 1124: 1122: 1121:New York City 1119: 1117: 1114: 1112: 1109: 1107: 1104: 1102: 1099: 1097: 1094: 1092: 1089: 1087: 1084: 1082: 1079: 1077: 1074: 1072: 1069: 1067: 1064: 1062: 1059: 1057: 1054: 1053: 1051: 1047: 1041: 1038: 1036: 1033: 1031: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1021: 1018: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1006: 1003: 1001: 998: 996: 995:Shotgun house 993: 991: 988: 986: 983: 981: 978: 976: 973: 971: 968: 966: 963: 961: 958: 956: 953: 951: 948: 946: 943: 941: 938: 936: 933: 931: 928: 926: 923: 921: 918: 916: 913: 911: 910:Dogtrot house 908: 906: 903: 901: 900:Cowboy church 898: 896: 893: 891: 888: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 873: 871: 868: 867: 865: 861: 855: 852: 850: 847: 845: 842: 840: 837: 835: 832: 830: 827: 825: 822: 820: 817: 815: 812: 810: 807: 805: 802: 800: 797: 795: 792: 790: 787: 785: 782: 780: 777: 775: 772: 771: 769: 765: 759: 758:Tudor Revival 756: 754: 751: 749: 746: 744: 741: 739: 736: 734: 731: 729: 726: 722: 719: 718: 717: 714: 712: 709: 707: 704: 702: 701:Mayan Revival 699: 697: 694: 692: 689: 687: 684: 682: 679: 677: 674: 672: 669: 667: 664: 662: 659: 657: 654: 652: 649: 647: 644: 641: 637: 634: 633: 631: 625: 619: 616: 614: 611: 609: 606: 604: 601: 599: 596: 594: 593:Second Empire 591: 589: 586: 585: 583: 581: 577: 571: 568: 566: 563: 561: 560:Greek Revival 558: 557: 555: 551: 543: 540: 539: 538: 535: 533: 530: 528: 525: 523: 520: 519: 517: 513: 505: 502: 501: 500: 497: 495: 492: 490: 487: 485: 482: 480: 477: 475: 472: 470: 467: 466: 464: 462: 458: 452: 449: 445: 442: 441: 440: 437: 436: 434: 430: 426: 419: 414: 412: 407: 405: 400: 399: 396: 389: 384: 380: 379: 371:, OldHouseWeb 370: 367: 366: 358: 354: 347: 336: 330: 326: 318: 316: 312: 308: 298: 296: 292: 286: 285:of the time. 284: 280: 275: 273: 269: 265: 261: 256: 254: 244: 240: 238: 234: 225: 216: 214: 210: 206: 202: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 178: 174: 170: 166: 161: 159: 155: 151: 145: 143: 139: 134: 130: 129:mass-produced 126: 122: 118: 114: 107: 102: 94: 84: 81: 73: 70:February 2008 63: 59: 53: 52: 46: 41: 32: 31: 27:Housing style 19: 1223:House styles 1131:Philadelphia 1091:Jacksonville 980:Quiggly hole 819:Neo-futurism 814:Neo-eclectic 774:Blobitecture 655: 627:Late-19th to 537:Neoclassical 532:Jeffersonian 474:First Period 356: 346: 329: 304: 287: 276: 257: 250: 241: 230: 162: 146: 120: 116: 112: 110: 76: 67: 48: 1141:San Antonio 1116:New Orleans 1106:Los Angeles 1096:Kansas City 1030:Town square 1015:Sweat lodge 965:Plank house 915:Earth lodge 733:PWA Moderne 608:Stick style 504:Territorial 173:dining room 169:living room 165:first floor 158:hipped roof 62:introducing 1202:Categories 1005:Skyscraper 960:Moki steps 955:Longhouses 849:Tiny-house 844:Shed style 834:Postmodern 661:Beaux-Arts 613:Queen Anne 565:Italianate 542:Antebellum 321:References 279:Shirtwaist 233:Midwestern 45:references 1161:St. Louis 1101:Las Vegas 1010:Sod house 950:Log cabin 895:Corn crib 824:Neomodern 799:High-tech 794:Earthship 779:Brutalist 580:Victorian 142:Craftsman 133:Victorian 1136:Portland 1076:Columbus 880:Cape Cod 875:Barabara 636:Art Deco 444:Builders 205:basement 185:bathroom 177:stairway 140:and the 1156:Spokane 1151:Seattle 1086:Houston 1081:Detroit 1071:Chicago 1066:Buffalo 1056:Atlanta 1020:Temples 990:Saltbox 930:I-house 890:Chickee 854:Usonian 789:Dingbat 646:Pre-war 618:Shingle 527:Federal 315:Aladdin 247:History 209:furnace 197:dormers 193:closets 189:bedroom 181:kitchen 58:improve 1182:Hawaii 1175:States 1061:Boston 1049:Cities 1040:Wigwam 1000:Sipapu 985:Ramada 809:Modern 743:Rustic 691:Googie 469:Creole 451:Pueblo 219:Models 213:boiler 150:dormer 115:(also 47:, but 1187:Texas 1126:Omaha 1111:Miami 1035:Tupiq 975:Qargi 940:Jacal 935:Igloo 920:Hogan 870:Adobe 839:Ranch 439:Mound 338:(PDF) 311:Sears 293:, or 201:attic 154:porch 1025:Tipi 945:Kiva 721:Deco 603:Folk 522:Adam 313:and 179:and 171:and 111:The 262:, " 211:or 119:or 1204:: 355:. 317:. 297:. 255:. 642:) 638:( 417:e 410:t 403:v 359:. 340:. 83:) 77:( 72:) 68:( 54:. 20:)

Index

American Foursquare architecture
references
inline citations
improve
introducing
Learn how and when to remove this message


Burlingame, San Diego
Arts and Crafts
mass-produced
Victorian
Prairie School
Craftsman
dormer
porch
hipped roof
first floor
living room
dining room
stairway
kitchen
bathroom
bedroom
closets
dormers
attic
basement
furnace
boiler

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.