Because the majority of homes in developments are built on the common selling denominator of what makes the most money the quickest. I spent years building specs and can tell you that in my area, as a builder, you would be absolutely NUTS not to build ranches. No one here wants a two-story unless it's a custom home.

Most houses in developments I call "The rectangle of seven gables" The house is a blank on the sides and back with some neo-palatial facade tacked on the front. And a number of strange spaces inside.

If the land you own is in an existing neigborhood the scale of a foursquare would probably be quite appropriate.

I think that many people buy based upon a list of criteria: square footage, number of beds/baths, garage, location, etc. I am not sure that the outside appearance is that high on the list in terms of architectural merit.

I know I am a snob when it comes to stuff like this, but I have done the same thing...a client took me along before she bought a townhouse. I think the realtor was shocked because I said "On the outside this is one of the ugliest developments I have ever seen, but the inside seems to meet your requirements, and the rooms are decently proportioned, I would buy it."

We built a version of a Foursquare for the reasons you're citing...Love the Prairie/Craftsman/homey farmish style and the simplicity of construction with lots of room (economical). Another person here contacted me and is also working toward that kind of house design. There are some Foursquares in the Craftsman styled developments in our area (Pac NW), but mostly Bungalows for more detail and less square footage. Maybe in your area they're considered too old style if you have a good quantity of them in the older section of your town? Who knows. People are missing out, but it's your chance to have something unique and wonderful, while being classic.

Here's ours...It's missing the dormer! My mistake. Oh, well. :-)

I don't think you could go wrong. I love the simple lines of a four square, I think this style home is lovely.

Thats a beautiful house --and the foursquare floorplan is very efficient, even when adapted for modern openness.

Most importantly, build what you like. Trends change so quickly.

I love a good four square, rhome has a beautiful example.
I am also from the PNW and we definitely get to see a few when we travel up in the central Oregon area. They certainly have done a great job with some of their developments.

So many subdivisions are completely devoid of any charm or character that I would for sure go outside the box and build what you love. Four squares are beautifully classic and you would not be sorry to build such a home IMHO.

Thank you for the input. We have traveled to Portland OR and seen some gorgeous Craftsman homes there. Rhome410, your home is inspirational. Nestled in the snow, it looks beautiful, warm, and comfortable. Congratulations!

We live near Madison Wisconsin and have what I consider to be a modified four square with a contemporary edge to it. If you get to Middleton (a suburb of Madison), go through the Middleton Hills subdivision--houses there have to be either prairie, craftsman or bungalow and there are several four squares. The link below is to one builder that builds alot of houses in Middleton Hills, and a few of them are four squares. I love our four square because every room is a corner room with windows on two walls.

Here is a link that might be useful: prairie house builder

It's pure speculation, of course, but I suspect the FourSquare is simply at the backside of the recent trends. Think over the past couple decades, and one sees houses getting bigger, with more elaborate fronts, and increasing percentages of rooftop. Even tract developments, notable for attempts to appeal to a common average of tastes, have followed the bigger-is-better route; one sees 2-story fake Colonials or pseudo-Tudor or modernistic oversized cubes each 5 feet from its neighbor. Bigger houses on the usual teensy tract-lots.

Funny thing [to me] is that FourSquares, Craftsman, Prairie, and cottages are not necessarily small. If one is selling on the basis of square footage, then those styles should be competitive. No, I think what we are seeing is a MIF (media induced frenzy) fad that is putting a high value on facades of columns and mixed media, dormers, bays, alcoves, and heavy heavy in-your-face roofstyles. FourSquare is possibly near the ultimate in simple serene lines, just about as opposite of the present trends as is possible. FS is about smooth balance, not jutting angles; and it would look mismatched wearing several siding materials. So, as to why we don't see many FourSquares today? It's simply a matter of revolving trends, and in the next decades we'll be seeing a gradual increase as the trend circles around.

Right, foursquare and bungalow vs. neo-eclectic mini McMansions have little to do with size.

There is a house I know that is pure bungalow: One window each side of the door, and a single dormer over a semi wrap around porch are all you see from the front. However, the door is six feet wide, behind one window sits a grand piano in the thirty foot LR and that "little" dormer holds a Queen sized bed and side tables.

This is a Big house that settles down into its environment. Somewhere in the 1980s we started building even small houses to look grandioise.
Foursquares can be tiny or enormous but still have a simplicity that is very classic and pleasant to look at.

I've linked to a few pictures of our modified four square house during construction before the front door was installed, land scaping, etc.. I say ours is a modified four square because we wanted the master on the first floor so we have a one story wing to the right for the master bedroom. We did not put a dormer on our house, and a classic four square would have a dormer. We have a 4 pitch hip roof with 3-1/2 foot overhangs. We went with casement windows because I like looking out through windows that aren't obstructed by cross bars and muntins. However, I have since since 2 (with a vertical muntin) over 1 double hung windows that I kind of wish that we had used, although I really like our windows from the inside so maybe not. The biggest problem with a four square design is that you can't just a add a few feet here or there-if you want to make the kitchen 2 feet wider you end up making that whole side (both first floor and second floor) 2 feet wider which can add a lot of square feet to the house. There are a lot of houses similar to our house in south central Wisconsin, so it doesn't stick out so much. But if we had built in another area of the country, I am sure that no one would understand why we built a house like that! Our house is a little less than 3,200 sf above grade and we have about 900 sf finished in our basement. Our very first house was a classic four square that was built in 1923.

Here is a link that might be useful: our modified four square

Carolyn53562, I've enjoyed various photos of the inside of you house, but have never seen the outside...Fantastic! Very Prairie.

rhome410-thank you, I think your home is fantastic too--it's very classic!

I love 'Four Squares' but it's just my husband and I, and they tend to be way more room than we need or than I want to clean.

Milwaukee Craftsman has a nice one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Milwaukee Craftsman

We live in a new development of traditionally-styled homes in the midwest. The four square plans are very popular here... particularly for young families.

I know this is an old thread, but I'm interested in possibly building a foursquare house...would love to see the photos from carolyn53562 that are no longer available in the above link. Thanks!

"Most houses in developments I call "The rectangle of seven gables" The
house is a blank on the sides and back with some neo-palatial facade
tacked on the front. And a number of strange spaces inside."

Palimpsest this really struck a nerve. I I immediately was reminded of a new M/I Home development in the area. The front the houses look very nice then to save money all three sides have no trim around the windows and most of the homes are two stories. So from the main road all you see is two stories house with 3 sides of siding with a few windows dotting them. It looks so horrible.

To developer/builders roof trusses make it possible to create the house equivalent of "Big Hat, No Cattle". A giant hipped roof is placed on top of a one story house with various sizes of gables attached to the front. The 4 square puts the bedrooms on the second floor. You will find that is still preferred in the northeast.

If you live in an area with existing and well-maintained four-square homes, and you like four-square homes, then the answer is simple: built it! They are classic in many ways. But like all things--location, location, location! I don't think I'd design and build a four-square in a neighborhood of ranchers, or a tract of stacked-gable nightmares!

4-squares still make me think 'classic' - while they don't suit my living arrangements, I agree with my sister that they are lovely!

As palimpsest stated

"Most houses in developments I call "The rectangle of seven gables" The house is a blank on the sides and back with some neo-palatial facade tacked on the front. And a number of strange spaces inside."

Ha! Why do we constantly try to redo what's already been done so well before. In our attempt to be "original," all we do is create monstrosities that will never stand the test of time and will eventually fall down, or have to be plowed over to relieve society of the eyesore.

In this forum, and in the kitchen forum, we can live the dilemma of "storey03" and her new build. My comments were not appreciated, though expressed with good will. Final take, I think she doesn't have a lot of trust or faith in her architect. He's either not very skilled or doesn't listen too well. I think four squares rock. Of course you do have to take into account the area and resale possibilities. Good luck. Old is new again!

"...the house equivalent of 'Big Hat, No Cattle' "

I woke the dogs laughing at that one! Sadly, finding affordable acreage for horses within a reasonable commute from Portland, OR, meant moving from a city of classic houses into the world of "Big Hat, No Cattle" -- both houses and men. (The women...not so much.)

Sorry to hear it Sbkh. About the men with no cattle that is.