Do you think your home or a building you admire might be an example of Mission, or California Mission, architecture? Here's how to tell.
Difficulty: N/A
Time Required: A speedy, 10-minute checklist
Here's How:
- Consider the location of the building. Is it in California or the southwestern part of the United States?
- Try to determine the date. Was the house built between about 1890 and 1920?
- Examine the siding. Is it smooth stucco?
- Check the roof. Do you see rounded parapets (low walls) which project above the roofline?
- Check the roofing material. Is it red tile?
- Observe the shape of the building. Is there a square tower? Does it have a bell?
- Examine the windows. Do you see any windows that are round or clover shaped?
- Look for other decorative details. Do you see twisted columns? Is the building otherwise rather plain?
- Look for a porch. Is it one story high? Is it supported by large, square pillars?
- Examine the entryway. Is there a covered archway leading to the front door?
Tips:
- Some Mission style homes resemble old Spanish mission churches. Others combine Mission ideas with craftsman and Prairie features.
- All Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial style homes will have some characteristics of the Mission style.
- Shaded porches and dark interiors make Mission homes particularly suited for warmer climates.
