Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans incorporate the architectural principles of the Prairie School, which originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led by architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright. These plans prioritize horizontal lines, open floor plans, and an emphasis on natural materials like wood and stone.
Prairie Style houses are often characterized by low-slung profiles, overhanging eaves, and wide, welcoming porches. They are designed to blend seamlessly with their surroundings, featuring large windows that bring the outdoors in. A prime example is the Robie House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1909. This iconic prairie-style home in Chicago, Illinois, showcases the harmonious integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.
In this article, we will delve into the key features of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans and explore how they can be adapted to modern living.
Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans are characterized by several key features that distinguish them from other architectural styles:
- Horizontal Lines
- Open Floor Plans
- Natural Materials
- Low-Slung Profiles
- Overhanging Eaves
- Wide Porches
- Large Windows
- Indoor-Outdoor Integration
These elements combine to create homes that are both stylish and functional, offering a harmonious blend of modern living with the timeless appeal of the Prairie School.
Horizontal Lines
Horizontal lines are a defining characteristic of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They create a sense of balance and harmony, and help to visually connect the home to the surrounding landscape.
- Low-slung profiles: Prairie-style homes are typically single-story or have a low-slung profile, with horizontal lines that emphasize their connection to the ground.
- Overhanging eaves: Wide, overhanging eaves are another signature feature of Prairie-style homes. They provide shelter from the sun and rain, and create a sense of shelter and protection.
- Wide porches: Prairie-style homes often feature wide, welcoming porches that wrap around the house. These porches extend the living space outdoors and provide a place to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
- Continuous windows: Horizontal bands of windows are a common feature of Prairie-style homes. These windows allow for plenty of natural light and create a strong connection between the indoors and outdoors.
The use of horizontal lines in Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans creates a sense of spaciousness and tranquility. These homes are designed to be in harmony with their surroundings, and the horizontal lines help to reinforce this connection.
Open Floor Plans
Open floor plans are a hallmark of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They create a sense of spaciousness and flow, and allow for a more flexible and modern way of living.
In Prairie-style homes, the living room, dining room, and kitchen are often combined into one large, open space. This creates a more communal and inviting atmosphere, and allows for easy flow between different areas of the home.
Open floor plans also allow for more natural light to enter the home. Large windows and sliding glass doors bring the outdoors in, creating a bright and airy living space. This connection to nature is a key element of Prairie-style architecture.
In addition to being more spacious and inviting, open floor plans can also be more flexible. Furniture can be arranged in a variety of ways to create different spaces and functions. This makes Prairie-style homes ideal for families and individuals who like to entertain or who simply want a more open and adaptable living space.
Overall, open floor plans are a key feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They create a sense of spaciousness, flow, and flexibility, and are ideal for modern living.
Natural Materials
Natural materials are another key element of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. These materials help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, and they also have a timeless appeal.
- Wood: Wood is one of the most common materials used in Prairie-style homes. It can be used for everything from siding and roofing to flooring and cabinetry. Wood adds warmth and character to a home, and it is also a durable and sustainable material.
- Stone: Stone is another popular choice for Prairie-style homes. It can be used for exterior walls, fireplaces, and patios. Stone is a strong and durable material that adds a touch of elegance to a home.
- Brick: Brick is a classic material that has been used in Prairie-style homes for centuries. It is a versatile material that can be used for both interior and exterior walls. Brick is a durable and fire-resistant material, and it can add a touch of charm to a home.
- Glass: Glass is an important material in Prairie-style homes. It allows for plenty of natural light to enter the home, and it creates a strong connection between the indoors and outdoors. Glass can be used for windows, doors, and even entire walls.
The use of natural materials in Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans helps to create a home that is both beautiful and functional. These materials are durable, sustainable, and they add a touch of warmth and character to a home.
Low-Slung Profiles
Low-slung profiles are a defining characteristic of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They create a sense of balance and harmony, and help to visually connect the home to the surrounding landscape.
Prairie-style homes are typically single-story or have a low-slung profile, with horizontal lines that emphasize their connection to the ground. This design choice has several advantages:
- Visual appeal: Low-slung profiles create a sense of balance and proportion. They are visually appealing and can help to make a home look more inviting.
- Connection to nature: Low-slung profiles help to visually connect the home to the surrounding landscape. This can create a sense of harmony and peacefulness.
- Energy efficiency: Low-slung profiles can be more energy efficient than homes with taller profiles. This is because they have less surface area exposed to the elements, which can reduce heat loss and gain.
In addition to these advantages, low-slung profiles can also be more flexible and adaptable. They can be built on a variety of different lot sizes and shapes, and they can be easily modified to meet the needs of the homeowner.
Overall, low-slung profiles are a key feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They create a sense of balance, harmony, and connection to nature, while also being energy efficient and adaptable.
Overhanging Eaves
Overhanging eaves are a signature feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They extend beyond the walls of the home, creating a covered porch or patio area. Overhanging eaves provide several benefits:
- Protection from the elements: Overhanging eaves provide shelter from the sun, rain, and snow. This can help to protect the home’s exterior and interior from damage. They can also make outdoor living spaces more comfortable by providing shade and protection from the elements.
- Visual interest: Overhanging eaves can add visual interest to a home. They create a sense of depth and shadow, and can help to define the home’s architectural style.
- Energy efficiency: Overhanging eaves can help to reduce heat gain and loss. In the summer, they can shade the home’s windows from the sun, reducing the amount of heat that enters the home. In the winter, they can help to trap heat inside the home, reducing the amount of heat that escapes.
- Increased living space: Overhanging eaves can create additional living space. Covered porches and patios can be used for a variety of activities, such as dining, entertaining, or simply relaxing. They can also be used to extend the home’s living space outdoors.
Overall, overhanging eaves are a key feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They provide protection from the elements, visual interest, energy efficiency, and increased living space.
Wide Porches
Wide porches are a defining feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They wrap around the home, creating a welcoming and inviting space. Wide porches offer several benefits:
- Outdoor living space: Wide porches provide additional outdoor living space. They can be used for a variety of activities, such as dining, entertaining, or simply relaxing. They can also be used to extend the home’s living space outdoors.
- Protection from the elements: Wide porches provide shelter from the sun, rain, and snow. This can make outdoor living spaces more comfortable and can also help to protect the home’s exterior from damage.
- Visual appeal: Wide porches add visual interest to a home. They create a sense of depth and shadow, and can help to define the home’s architectural style.
- Transitional space: Wide porches can serve as a transitional space between the indoors and outdoors. They can help to create a more seamless connection between the two spaces.
In addition to these benefits, wide porches can also be customized to meet the needs of the homeowner. They can be screened in to keep out insects, or they can be left open to enjoy the fresh air. They can also be furnished with a variety of furniture and accessories to create a comfortable and inviting space.
Overall, wide porches are a key feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They provide additional living space, protection from the elements, visual interest, and a transitional space between the indoors and outdoors.
Large Windows
Large windows are a defining feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They allow for plenty of natural light to enter the home, and they create a strong connection between the indoors and outdoors.
Prairie-style homes are often designed with large windows on all sides of the home. This allows for natural light to flood into the home, creating a bright and airy living space. Large windows also provide views of the surrounding landscape, which can help to create a sense of peace and tranquility.
In addition to providing natural light and views, large windows can also help to reduce energy consumption. By allowing natural light to enter the home, large windows can reduce the need for artificial lighting. This can lead to significant energy savings over time.
Overall, large windows are a key feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. They provide natural light, views, and energy efficiency, all of which can contribute to a more comfortable and sustainable living environment.
In addition to the benefits listed above, large windows can also be customized to meet the needs of the homeowner. They can be tinted to reduce glare and heat gain, or they can be fitted with blinds or curtains to provide privacy. Large windows can also be used to create unique and dramatic architectural features, such as floor-to-ceiling windows or window walls.
Indoor-Outdoor Integration
Indoor-outdoor integration is a key feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. This design concept aims to seamlessly blend the indoors and outdoors, creating a more cohesive and enjoyable living environment.
- Large windows and doors: Prairie-style homes often feature large windows and doors that connect the interior and exterior spaces. These openings allow for natural light to flood into the home and provide views of the surrounding landscape. They also make it easy to transition between the indoors and outdoors.
- Open floor plans: Open floor plans are another common feature of Prairie-style homes. These plans create a more fluid and spacious living environment, and they allow for easy flow between different areas of the home. Open floor plans also help to connect the indoors and outdoors, as they often incorporate large windows and doors that lead to outdoor living spaces.
- Outdoor living spaces: Prairie-style homes often feature generous outdoor living spaces, such as porches, patios, and decks. These spaces are designed to be an extension of the home, and they provide a comfortable place to relax, entertain, or simply enjoy the fresh air. Outdoor living spaces are often connected to the indoors through large windows and doors, creating a seamless transition between the two spaces.
- Natural materials: Prairie-style homes often use natural materials, such as wood and stone, both inside and out. This helps to create a cohesive and harmonious look, and it also helps to connect the indoors and outdoors. Natural materials are also durable and sustainable, making them a good choice for both indoor and outdoor use.
Overall, indoor-outdoor integration is a key feature of Contemporary Prairie Style House Plans. This design concept creates a more cohesive and enjoyable living environment, and it allows homeowners to take advantage of the natural beauty of their surroundings.
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