By Mandy Ford, The Claus Team Marketing Manager
The distinct design of Texas homes is unmistakable.
I haven’t always lived in Texas. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Denver, accustomed to small, single-family ranches of wood and brick. Rarely did I see a Spanish roof or adobe, or a house exterior of pure stone. Once I moved to Texas, I noticed the state’s affinity for these types of materials. I assumed Texans’ love for stone and rustic design stemmed from its natural landscape…semi-desert, rock-and-clay, a landscape of many natural tones. But the truth is, home design and architecture in Texas is also heavily attributed to its many cultural influences, in addition to its gnarly natural landscape. The following is a brief history of how cultures influenced the design of Texas homes.
Rustic-Cowboy, Mexico and South America Influence on Homes (1519-1700s):
Vaqueros (cowboys) came from Mexico and South America after the Spanish established cattle ranches there. The vaqueros migrated throughout the United States and South America all the way to Argentina. Landowners even taught Native Americans to cattle ranch on horseback. The practice and profession spread to the Southwest and was hugely popular by the turn of the 19th Century. Today, many Texas homes take on a rustic rancher feel, as a throwback to the archetypal American cowboy with lasso in-hand. Cabins, rugged wood, animal skins and mounted heads paired with Native American rugs and adobe inspiration is common in many Texas homes.
Spanish-Inspired and Native American-Inspired Homes (1500s-1800s):
After all, some of the first smatterings of architecture in the state were Spanish Roman-Catholic Missions as Spaniards strategically placed them throughout the state to bring Christianity to Native Americans from the late-1600s. These mission chapels were responsible for securing Spanish territory in Texas along with forts and pueblos. (That is the beauty and power of Real Estate ownership, by the way!) The missions became the signature look of Texas in the following years. Today, many homes reflect details of Spanish-style Missions, whether it be in orange or brown tile roofs, or black rot-iron gates, posts, and flourishes.
(Photo Credit: Architecture Digest)
Perhaps Texas homes made out of adobe and natural stone slabs can, in part, be attributed to its rich culture of Native Americans. At least four Native American cultures existed throughout Texas when the first European settlers laid claim to territories there since, well forever probably, including the Coahuiltecan, Karankawan, Trans-Pecos, Jumanos and the Patarabueyes peoples who lived in adobe and mud-plastered homes in villages or pueblos. In North Texas, another culture erected structures similar to those seen commonly in New Mexico and Arizona from about 1500, layering adobe and slabs of stone. This is commonly seen in the landscaping and even exterior builds or veneers of homes in our area.
Greek, Colonial, and Victorian Anglo Influence on Homes: (1700s-1900s)
As more and more Europeans settled in Texas, more Catholic and Episcopal churches popped up throughout the state. Tall, angular steeples and high arches brought a gothic-Greek style into Texas architecture. Anglos began to build public squares and communities, building structures multiple stories high with many European touches, such as French doors and brick-and-stone patterns. Tall Greek columns found their way into many city buildings and even homes, giving a palatial feel to structures.
And of course, Texans caught the Victorian-era bug after the civil war until the turn of the 19th century. This explains the many historical buildings established in many Texas towns. Victorians were very detailed and opulent in their architectural styles, preferring asymmetry and an overall balance rather than logic of layout or simplicity in each room or common area. Today, many Texas cities preserve their historical structures as a valuable part of their culture. The pictures below reflect this.
(Photo Credit: City-Data.com, Gainesville, TX Victorian Home)
(Photo Credit: Search-Har.com, a Colonial-Style Brick-and-Column Home in Houston, TX)
(Photo Credit: Exotic Excess, A $6.2-mil Greek Revival Home in Dallas, TX)
Many homes in Texas are a nod to these influences in its diverse and rich history. New construction often mimics these gorgeous details, sometimes finding a unique amalgam of all these styles. So, when you see one of our homes for sale, look for the hints of cultural influences we've just discussed, and see if you notice! For instance, do you see the tiniest touches of Spanish-Colonial and Native American influence in this Garden Ridge home? ↓ (For sale at TheClausTeam.com)
(Photo Credit: clausteam.com, 24719 Creek Loop, San Antonio, 78266)
And notice the classical Greek and colonial details of this San Antonio home for sale. ↓ The style also combines Spanish and Native American inspiration, along with complimenting the natural landscape of the land with the layers of natural white stone in the yard. Beautiful!
(For sale at the TheClausTeam.com)
(Photo Credit: clausteam.com, 863 Fawnway, San Antonio, 78260)
Data Credit: (Data and dates taken from the Texas Historical Association, Architecture as well as AmericanCowboy.com)
No Comments