Book Excerpt
Roots of Home
Roots of Home chapter excerpted in New Old House magazine, Fall 2008: http://www.russellversaci.com/NOHFall08_Roots_excerpt.pdf Good houses, whether old or new, start somewhere. They begin with a precedent or a tradition with sturdy roots in the past. Architects like to say they have good bones. Good bones come from building traditions that have been refined by generations of builders in places with a distinct cultural heritage. Think of visiting an old town such as Nantucket, Charleston, Santa Fe, or New Orleans. What makes these places so special? We marvel at the weathered cottages of Nantucket, the classical piazzas of Charleston, the pink adobe walls of Santa Fe, or the lacy ironwork of New Orleans, and realize that classic house styles are what define the character of the places we love. But where did these styles come from? What makes each one so different? Classic styles were born from a mix of cultural heritage, climate, geography, and natural resources that are unique to a place. I call these historical forces the ''roots of home.'' They have shaped traditions that are the hallmarks of America's favorite places. They are the starting point for building new houses in authentic styles--"new old houses"--that complement the places we love. In America, we have four centuries of building traditions to explore that provide the rootstock for creating new old houses. From coast to coast, there are regional vernacular styles, such as the New England saltbox, the Pennsylvania stone farmhouse, the Gulf Coast raised cottage, the Texas rock house, and the California casa. Each provides a rich source of inspiration for new homes that are timeless classics. Since colonial times, classic styles have evolved as successive generations have adapted old styles to meet new needs. It is no different today. A new old house should fit into its surroundings, be built to last for generations, and also suit our modern lives by interpreting old traditions in creative new ways. When we create a new old house, we carry the seeds of the past into the present. To get the details right, we need to understand the origins of American building traditions. To understand the roots of home, we need to begin with history. Our Spanish Heritage: Souls for God, Gold for Country. Florida Peninsula: St. Augustine Style - Texas Borderlands: Spanish Mission Revival - Alta California: Spanish Colonial Revival Our French Heritage: River Roads, Indian Allies. Mississippi Valley: French Creole Cottage - Gulf Coast: French Colonial Plantation Our English Heritage: Cavaliers, Puritans, and Beggars. Chesapeake Bay: Maryland Manor House - New England: Connecticut River Valley Colonial - Carolina Low Country: Anglo-Caribbean Plantation - Carolina Low Country: Charleston Single House Our Continental Heritage: Free Trade, Log Cabins, and Brotherly Love. Delaware Valley: Swedish Log Cabin - Hudson Valley: Dutch Colonial Revival - Delaware Valley: Pennsylvania Dutch Farmhouse - Southwest Borderlands: Texas German Hill Country Ranch |
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