Video:Characteristics of a Foursquare Style Home

Transcript:Characteristics of a Foursquare Style Home

Hi, I'm Fred Abler, Graduate Architect and CEO of FormFonts.com. I'm here today for About.com to talk to you about the characteristics of a Foursquare Style Home.

What is a Foursquare Style Home?

Gaining in popularity from the late 1800s to the early 1930s, the Foursquare style was a major break from the preceding architecture of the Victorian era. Also known as Prairie Boxes, these homes provided generous space even when relegated to small city lots. They're now an American classic, and while slightly more prevalent in the Upper Midwest, these homes can be found throughout the United States.

The Exterior and Interior of a Foursquare Style Home

This two-story American Foursquare in San Luis Obispo's Mill Street Historic District exhibits some of the most distinguishing features of this architectural style including the characteristic box shape, and a low-hipped roof with a deep overhang. While this one was constructed with wood siding, Foursquare homes are also commonly constructed of brick, stone, stucco, or even concrete block.

Foursquare homes also tend to be two-and-a-half stories high with large central dormers, and front porches that run the length of the house with very wide stairs -- features that are absent on this house.

The interiors are based on a four-room plan both upstairs and downstairs, with each room being a box or square; hence, the Foursquare name. The size of these homes and their simple, no-nonsense layout make them ideal for large families, just as they were in their heydey.

Investing in a Foursquare Style Home

They're desirable pieces of property for many reasons, which keeps them in good standing in terms of value. A well-maintained Foursquare should, by all accounts, be a solid investment. The Foursquare style home is a staple of American architectural history and a style all its own -- sturdy and simple, but iconic nonetheless.

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