| National-style homes are common across the nation, | | | | and "I-house" styles, both of which have narrow floor |
| but not always easy to identify. That's because they | | | | plans that are generally two rooms across and one |
| tend to mix several pre-Victorian era building styles, | | | | room deep, with two floors. National homes with |
| as well as Native American building traditions. The | | | | floor plans that are deeper than one room are |
| result is a surprisingly simple and elegant architectural | | | | referred to as "massed" homes - these often have a |
| form that's great for building attractive, affordable | | | | large gable on the side of the building, as well as a |
| homes, and has just enough ornamental appeal to | | | | shed-roofed porch. Whichever type of floor plan is |
| work on high-end custom homes. | | | | used, a National home typically features rectangular |
| To understand the look of a National home, it's | | | | shaped rooms and a pyramid-shaped roof. |
| important to go back to the style's roots. This is | | | | National homes also typically feature large front |
| perhaps the building method most closely tied with | | | | verandas reminiscent of French Creole and Dutch |
| Native American building styles, which date back | | | | Revival styles. However, porches in this style are |
| centuries, and were loosely adopted by settlers | | | | different in that they are higher from the ground |
| throughout the 19th century. When Victorian | | | | than French Creole verandas, and more centered on |
| architecture became popular across the nation in the | | | | the house than those used in the Dutch Revival style. |
| early 20th century, the National style was chosen by | | | | While National homes are quite attractive, they have |
| builders who wanted to preserve the best aspects | | | | been criticized in geographic regions for its |
| of Native building in modern homes. For this reason, | | | | vulnerability to storms and high winds. The high |
| National homes tend to have a narrow profile, with | | | | pitched roofs on these homes, in particular, are |
| steep angled roofing similar to teepee and lean-to | | | | known for "catching wind like a sail," and easily being |
| construction, and often including four or more high | | | | torn off houses in hurricanes. |
| gables. Other Victorian-era homes, by contrast, have | | | | Where practical however, National homes have |
| less gabling, and a wider, more squared profile. | | | | always made a good choice for builders looking to |
| National-style homes come in a wide variety of | | | | combine afford ability and easy of use with a stylish |
| subsets. Most common are the "hall-and-parlor family" | | | | design. |