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From the earliest colonial styles to current designs that honor and reflect the past, Roots of Home: Our journey to a new old house is a visually stunning journey tracing the development of today's traditional homes.
Both an architectural feast and a field guide for creating new old houses, Roots of Home traces the development of today's traditional homes from the earliest colonial styles to the present in a visually stunning journey.
Russell Versaci takes us back to the beginning, when our ancestors built homes that reflected their Old World roots tempered with New World realities. As they settled new territories, they carried the homes of their fathers with them like a touchstone. They sowed farms and towns with houses similar to the ones they left behind but suited to the new climates and materials surrounding them.
Each old-house style showcased - from New England Colonial and Pennsylvania Dutch to French Creole and Spanish Mission - represents the cumulative history of generations of Americans adapting to their new home. With Versaci as your guide, you will see how yesterday's houses evolved into the classic homes we love today and you will learn how to create a new old house that evokes timeless character.
Russell Versaci takes us back to the beginning, when our ancestors built homes that were steeped in their Old World roots and tempered by New World realities. As they settled new territories, these pioneers carried the homes of their fathers with them like a touchstone. They created new towns on the frontier by building houses similar to the ones they left behind, but suited to the new climates and materials they encountered.
From coast to coast, you'll enjoy a fascinating tour of old New England, the Chesapeake Bay, the Florida peninsula, Mississippi valley, California and the Southwest borderlands - as you learn how culture, history, and a unique mix of indigenous qualities shaped the classic styles to evolve in each place.
From the Introduction
Good bones come from building traditions that have been refined by generations of builders in places with a distinct cultural heritage. Think of visiting an old town such as Nantucket, Charleston, Santa Fe, or New Orleans.
What makes these places so special? We marvel at the weathered cottages of Nantucket, the classical piazzas of Charleston, the pink adobe walls of Santa Fe, or the lacy ironwork of New Orleans and realize that classic house styles are what define the character of the places we love.
But where did these styles come from? What makes each one so different? Classic styles were born from a mix of cultural heritage, climate, geography, and natural resources that are unique to a place. I call these historical forces the "roots of home." They have shaped traditions that are the hallmarks of America's favorite places. They are the starting point for building new houses in authentic styles - "new old houses" - that complement the places we love.
In America, we have four centuries of building traditions to explore that provide the rootstock for creating new old houses. From coast to coast, there are regional vernacular styles, such as the New England saltbox, the Pennsylvania stone farmhouse, the Gulf Coast raised cottage, the Texas rock house, and the California casa. Each provides a rich source of inspiration for new homes that are timeless classics.
Since colonial times, classic styles have evolved as successive generations have adapted old styles to meet new needs. It is no different today. A new old house should fit into its surroundings, be built to last for generations, and also suit our modern lives by interpreting old traditions in creative new ways.
When we create a new old house, we carry the seeds of the past into the present. To get the details right, we need to understand the origins of American building traditions. To understand the roots of home, we need to begin with history.
About the Author
Russell Versaci has been practicing traditional architecture for two decades. His firm, Russell Versaci Architecture, is noted for creating thoughtful, carefully executed designs for period-style homes that reflect a mastery of history. His first book, Creating a New Old House, promotes the author's "Pillars of Traditional Design," a set of principles for creating authentic traditional architecture. Versaci's designs have been featured in national magazines, including Traditional Home, Southern Accents, House Beautiful, and Southern Living, as well as on Good Morning America. |
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