Queen Anne buildings are vivacious and uninhabited. Design limitations
dissolved and each home has its own unique features, but all use asymmetrical
massing. This style was promoted by the first architectural magazine The
American Architect and Building News and the pattern book Modern Dwellings
(Henry H. Holly). Splendid spindles and ornamentation were applied above doors
and windows, to gables, porches, brackets and chimneys. Since it was ready-made
and available and available through catalogues, builders came up with endless
ingenious combination.
Massing
The Massing of a building refers to its basic exterior form. Look for:
Height to building width ratio: compare the proportions; is it higher than wide, etc? Roof:What is its pitch – steep or flat? Does it slope in numerous directions? Facade Arrangement: What pattern is created by openings for doors and windowns compared to solid wall between them? Rhythm:Is there an element such as a window, dormer, etc. which repeats at a regular interval?
Are there larger and smaller openings which repeat on the façade?
Elements
Elements are the main parts of the building, which make up the mass. Each style has a
distinctive approach to arranging elements of the façade. Many styles place elements
symmetrically such as an equal number of similar windows on each side of a door, etc.
Asymmetrical building, on the other hand, depend more on balance of different
architectural elements. For example a verandah that starts in the middle and wraps
around one side might be balanced by a two storey bay window or turret on the other side.
Entry: Where is the door(s) located? Does it have a transom panel or sidelights? Windows: How are they organized on the façade? What type are they? (Square, bays, Palladian, keyhole, oval, oriel, vertical sliders, casement, etc.) Porch/Verandah: Where is it? Does it go all the way across the façade? Is it opened or closed? Turret: Where is it placed? What type of roof-conical, octagonal, etc? Roof:What type of roof is it (hip, gable, mansard, gambrel, etc.)? Is there an overhang? Do the fascia boards return at the gable end? Chimney:Where is it placed on the façade? What materials are used? Dormers:What type are they? (Hip, gable, bay, shed, etc)
Details
Details are the smaller scale pieces that further refine and make up
the elements. Details enrich the façade of buildings providing texture
and human scale. Details reflect the high level of construction skills
of previous generations.
Entry: What type of door, sidelight/transom? How many panels and where are they?
Is it glazed? Are the frames enhanced with mouldings, carvings, brackets, etc.? Windows: Is the sash divided into a number a lites with muntin bars? What type
of glass? Is there stained or leaded glass? Are the frames enhanced by mouldings,
carvings, brackets, etc.? Porch/Verandah: What type of posts or columns? What type of capital and base?
Are there brackets at the roof connection? What is the profile of the balusters? Walls: What are the materials? Are there decorative textures created by shingle
patterns (fish scale, diamond, and spade) or if it is a masonry building are there
brick corbel bands and bonding patterns? Roof/Wall: What is the entablature made up of? Look for: cornice, frieze,
and architrave. Are there brackets, modallions, brick corbels, dentils, etc.?
Are these also used doors and windows? Are there decorative vergeboards with
finials and pendants at the ends of gables? Chimney: Are there patterns created in the brick work? How about chimney pots or metal cresting? Colours: Are there a number (usually 3) of colours which accentuate the elements and details found on the mass of your building.
Foundation: Does it lift the building off of the site or help it fit in? What are the materials: rubble, stone, brick, and concrete?
Landscape: Are there fences, planters, trees, pathways, stairs, and rockeries which help the building fit into scale?
