Tuesday, April 10, 2012

HISTORIC HOME INSPIRATION: THE AMERICAN GOTHIC HOUSE

Also known as the Dibble House, the American Gothic House is the famous backdrop of Grant Wood's 1930 painting, American Gothic. Located in Eldon, Iowa, the house was listed on the National Register in 1974 and operates as a museum today.



The house is an example of an American vernacular style of architecture from the early 20th century: Carpenter Gothic. The style grew out of a need for quickly built homes and a desire for fanciful details. The price to add fanciful details to wood-framed structures decreased significantly so that even the humblest homes were able to incorporate some extra beauty. Identifying features of Carpenter Gothic include steeply-pitched roofs and gables, carved porch railings, strong vertical design elements, such as board and batten siding, and of course, pointed-arch windows. (American Gothic Website)




Some inspiration from the simple design of the American Gothic House:











No comments:

Post a Comment