Art of the Exterior: When Less Is More
See how limiting your materials makes an exterior stronger and more timeless
Homeowners may often feel besieged by the sheer quantity of building products, furniture and accessories available, many of which promise to be “that last missing piece” that will bring perfection to their project.
Against that onslaught of the new, it might be worth considering whether historic projects are so evocative in the present because of the limited building materials, finishes and systems that were available to the designers and builders of these works. They didn’t have our huge supply chain available to them, and what they created was often the better for it in terms of physical longevity and timeless design.
Working with your architect or builder, consider how a tightly controlled palette of regionally appropriate materials could bring design strength to your home, regardless of its style or inspiration. In this article we’ll focus on how this thinking applies to a home’s exterior.
Against that onslaught of the new, it might be worth considering whether historic projects are so evocative in the present because of the limited building materials, finishes and systems that were available to the designers and builders of these works. They didn’t have our huge supply chain available to them, and what they created was often the better for it in terms of physical longevity and timeless design.
Working with your architect or builder, consider how a tightly controlled palette of regionally appropriate materials could bring design strength to your home, regardless of its style or inspiration. In this article we’ll focus on how this thinking applies to a home’s exterior.
In this home in Ibiza, Spain, the visually heavy stone material is used on the less-imposing single-story mass of the home.
Resist the temptation to add accents or introduce another material haphazardly. If you’ve wisely selected that initial exterior material, chances are you may only lessen its impact if you try garnishing it.
If you are driven to add another material, make certain it is another regionally appropriate material and use it on defined architectural masses, not on a wall here and there. Make sure that material changes occur only at inside corners, never outside corners. For example, notice how the stone of this house in Ibiza occurs on the entire portion of the house on the right side of the photo.
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Resist the temptation to add accents or introduce another material haphazardly. If you’ve wisely selected that initial exterior material, chances are you may only lessen its impact if you try garnishing it.
If you are driven to add another material, make certain it is another regionally appropriate material and use it on defined architectural masses, not on a wall here and there. Make sure that material changes occur only at inside corners, never outside corners. For example, notice how the stone of this house in Ibiza occurs on the entire portion of the house on the right side of the photo.
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This home near Washington, D.C., shows a well-executed exterior material change between floors: The board and batten visually lightens the stone base of the structure.
Leave visual space around doors and windows. Leave a visually appropriate amount of space between openings in a stone or brick wall, even if those materials are veneered. Respecting the construction method of the given material, even where that material is “simulated,” will add authenticity and credibility to the overall design.
For example, there should be at least 12 inches of stone between door or window openings, as it would generally be difficult to build a real stone pier or column to a narrower width.
For example, there should be at least 12 inches of stone between door or window openings, as it would generally be difficult to build a real stone pier or column to a narrower width.
This dwelling shows a subtle but effective use of lighting, grilles and other details that are important to a Spanish-inspired home.
Consider that light fixtures, gates and other functional accessories like gutters and downspouts provide a critical layer of interest. Remember, even after wall material selections and door and window design, there is still a lot of finishing that needs to occur, all of which should build positively on the base established by the foregoing selections.
By following this layered approach, you should find that the exterior has naturally and logically developed a pleasant aesthetic, and incorporating additional exterior materials, accents and accessories will only start to diminish that.
Consider that light fixtures, gates and other functional accessories like gutters and downspouts provide a critical layer of interest. Remember, even after wall material selections and door and window design, there is still a lot of finishing that needs to occur, all of which should build positively on the base established by the foregoing selections.
By following this layered approach, you should find that the exterior has naturally and logically developed a pleasant aesthetic, and incorporating additional exterior materials, accents and accessories will only start to diminish that.
This home near Toronto shows masterful consideration of fenestration design in a modern context. The layout of the windows and their internal divisions are well-ordered and clearly play a central role in the design composition, the large window expanses balancing nicely against the smaller windows of the more private areas of the home.
Doors and Windows
After that initial choice of exterior wall material, fenestration (the arrangement of windows and doors on the exterior faces of a building) is the next most important aspect to consider. The size and placement of windows and doors, their finishes and how they are divided (casement, double-hung, arrangement of muntins) play a huge role in the overall impression of a home’s exterior.
Doors and Windows
After that initial choice of exterior wall material, fenestration (the arrangement of windows and doors on the exterior faces of a building) is the next most important aspect to consider. The size and placement of windows and doors, their finishes and how they are divided (casement, double-hung, arrangement of muntins) play a huge role in the overall impression of a home’s exterior.
Mix window and door manufacturers and materials. It is often stronger to vary those materials and finishes, rather than the actual exterior wall finishes.
That idea of using various window and door manufacturers can accomplish another important task: economy. Remember, for both new construction and renovation projects, doors and windows will be some of the most expensive portions of the construction cost.
Using those expensive but amazing steel sash doors where they will be seen and used most makes good sense, and their cost can be offset to a certain degree by using more cost-effective solutions in other parts of the house.
That idea of using various window and door manufacturers can accomplish another important task: economy. Remember, for both new construction and renovation projects, doors and windows will be some of the most expensive portions of the construction cost.
Using those expensive but amazing steel sash doors where they will be seen and used most makes good sense, and their cost can be offset to a certain degree by using more cost-effective solutions in other parts of the house.
Roofing Systems
Even when roofing materials are displayed prominently in a home’s design, they are often the last critical component to be considered. This can be a natural result of the design discussion. Often, the roof is a small percentage of what we can see of the home, so more time is generally spent considering walls — which are always the most visible aspects of any given exterior. On many contemporary homes, the roof is never seen at all.
Even when roofing materials are displayed prominently in a home’s design, they are often the last critical component to be considered. This can be a natural result of the design discussion. Often, the roof is a small percentage of what we can see of the home, so more time is generally spent considering walls — which are always the most visible aspects of any given exterior. On many contemporary homes, the roof is never seen at all.
Even when a sensible choice of material is made (based on geographic, climatological and market factors), there are still multiple pitfalls to avoid.
Avoid too many colors. With mission tile, for example, consider that it may be better to pick a single tile roof color. It wasn’t that long ago that there were few choices as to what color a clay roof tile could be — the color was determined by the naturally occurring clay available at the nearest manufacturer. In large cities, you might have been lucky to have had a second supplier available, with a different clay color.
Today, manufacturers seek to offer more and more color options. Owners, overwhelmed by the choices, often believe they’re averaging their likelihood of making a good outcome by picking a blend of two or three colors. The result comes off as starkly inauthentic due to the variance of hues and color values. Often, it is better to find a single color well-suited to match the wall materials, doors and windows, and stick with it.
Avoid too many colors. With mission tile, for example, consider that it may be better to pick a single tile roof color. It wasn’t that long ago that there were few choices as to what color a clay roof tile could be — the color was determined by the naturally occurring clay available at the nearest manufacturer. In large cities, you might have been lucky to have had a second supplier available, with a different clay color.
Today, manufacturers seek to offer more and more color options. Owners, overwhelmed by the choices, often believe they’re averaging their likelihood of making a good outcome by picking a blend of two or three colors. The result comes off as starkly inauthentic due to the variance of hues and color values. Often, it is better to find a single color well-suited to match the wall materials, doors and windows, and stick with it.
This Craftsman design showcases a combination of complementary roof materials, used to great effect.
Mix materials tastefully. It is possible to artfully combine different roof materials, which can often add subtle yet satisfying interest to a design.
The combination of metal roof and asphalt shingle springs to mind when used expertly on modern farmhouse designs, where the wall materials might stay consistent. This approach might entail changing the metal roofs to a lower slope, and using them only on porches, as shown in the example here.
Mix materials tastefully. It is possible to artfully combine different roof materials, which can often add subtle yet satisfying interest to a design.
The combination of metal roof and asphalt shingle springs to mind when used expertly on modern farmhouse designs, where the wall materials might stay consistent. This approach might entail changing the metal roofs to a lower slope, and using them only on porches, as shown in the example here.
Landscape
Landscape design and implementation is perhaps the area where geographic and climate considerations have an outsize and instantaneous impact on the success of a project.
While homeowners in the Southwest can, if they choose, import giant non-native specimen trees and plant huge lawns, they’re really engaging in a Sisyphean task, struggling against the climate and the geography of where they’ve chosen to live.
Even if such a landscape is meticulously maintained, odds are that something in the system will eventually break down, and the landscape will fail. Mother Nature is persistent and relentless, and she always wins in the end.
‘Terroir’ Brings a Sense of Place to Your Landscape
Landscape design and implementation is perhaps the area where geographic and climate considerations have an outsize and instantaneous impact on the success of a project.
While homeowners in the Southwest can, if they choose, import giant non-native specimen trees and plant huge lawns, they’re really engaging in a Sisyphean task, struggling against the climate and the geography of where they’ve chosen to live.
Even if such a landscape is meticulously maintained, odds are that something in the system will eventually break down, and the landscape will fail. Mother Nature is persistent and relentless, and she always wins in the end.
‘Terroir’ Brings a Sense of Place to Your Landscape
A landscape will establish itself sooner, and enjoy a far longer lifespan, if its design utilizes geographically native plant materials, or plant materials that have a long-term solid track record in that climate.
Such a landscape will also likely be far more cost-effective to install initially and maintain over the long haul, allowing a great look for far less cost than those that are pushing against Mother Nature.
It will also have much less impact on its surroundings: less water use, less fertilizer, less pesticide and more. All of those have a cost impact certainly, but there is also a larger philosophical question to examine. While all landscapes need some quantity of those resources, as with most things, it might be wise to aim for the greatest and most pleasing result, with the least amount of input.
More
What We Can Learn From Regional Architecture
8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do
Find an architect to help you design your home
Such a landscape will also likely be far more cost-effective to install initially and maintain over the long haul, allowing a great look for far less cost than those that are pushing against Mother Nature.
It will also have much less impact on its surroundings: less water use, less fertilizer, less pesticide and more. All of those have a cost impact certainly, but there is also a larger philosophical question to examine. While all landscapes need some quantity of those resources, as with most things, it might be wise to aim for the greatest and most pleasing result, with the least amount of input.
More
What We Can Learn From Regional Architecture
8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do
Find an architect to help you design your home
Exterior Wall Systems
When defining a fairly limited exterior palette of materials, start with a selection process that marries geographic, climatological and market factors.
Look to materials that have proved popular and durable over time in your area. “Built to last” wasn’t a nicety for builders in the past — it was a necessity. They generally didn’t choose materials that would need frequent refurbishment or replacement. They often viewed “new” materials with some suspicion and adopted them only after they’d proven to be durable and cost-effective over a long duration.