Historic Porches & Balconies

Spanish Colonial

• The Spanish Colonial era of housing lasted throughout the 18th century and these type of houses were seen throughout Mexico, Florida and the modern-day Southwest United States. Spanish Colonial porches were known as “portals.” Portals were usually narrow and faced the street or the house's inner courtyard. Like the rest of the house, portals had adobe walls and flat ceilings or roofs. Spanish colonial houses sometimes had balconies over their porches. These houses usually had iron railings on the edge of the balconies, while porches relied on wooden beams for support. Both the porch's wooden beams and balcony's iron rails had intricate designs.

Victorian

• Buildings constructed during the reign of Queen Victoria of England from 1837 to 1901 are known as Victorian-style houses. Victorian-era houses were seen in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. The balconies and porches of Victorian-style houses featured wooden ornamentation known as “gingerbread.” Most Victorian-style houses had covered porches on the front of the house facing the street. Victorian-style porches typically possessed white trim and some houses had wraparound porches -- the porches wrapped around the house. Similarly to the house's porch, Victorian-style balconies had covers and were usually stacked on top of the porch.

Greek Revival

• Greek Revival-style buildings were built in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. These buildings had similar patterns to the architecture of Ancient Greek temples, particularly the implementation of tall, white columns at the front of the buildings. The porches of Greek Revival buildings were known for their geometric balanced designs. Most Greek Revival homes had tall white columns which connected the homes' balconies and porches – the Greek Revival balconies were stacked on top of the porches.

Italianate

• Patterned after 16th century Italian Renaissance architecture, the Italianate wave of buildings occurred in the 19th century and built throughout Europe and the United States. In the United States, Italianate buildings were primarily constructed in the Northeast and Midwest regions. Most Italianate buildings were square-shaped. Italianate homes usually had porches that covered most or all of the house's front side. Homes built in Italianate style had ornate decor, such as murals on the porch's roof, cast iron railings, intricately carved columns and lattice on the railings.