General Elements of
Architectural Design
Developed for the Champaign County
Early American History Museum
By Zachary D. Cain
AHTC Summer Fellowship 2005
Introduction

In every type of house, there are many different
types of architectural design elements that are
incorporated to created the finished product.
The following PowerPoint slide show will
examine some of these basic elements of
architectural design and provide visual examples
of the different styles that have been used over
time. Use your Elements of Architectural Design
Graphic Organizer to help you take notes on the
various different design elements.
Types of Roofs

Houses have various different roof-top
designs that are used to be both
functional and visually appealing to the
eye. Here are some examples of different
types of roof-top designs:
Roofing Materials

Just as there are various different types of
roof-top designs, there are also different
types of materials that are used to make
roofs both functional and visually
appealing. Here are some examples of
roofing materials:
Roofing Materials
Walls and Siding

There are many different types of
exteriors that are used in the construction
of houses. From logs to concrete bricks,
walls and siding are not only used to keep
out bad weather and insects, but also to
show some aspects of architectural
design. Here are some examples of
materials used for walls and siding:
Windows

Windows have always been an important
part of many homes. From a sources for
allowing in natural light and a refreshing
summer breeze to a means of expelling
nasty odors and smoke from fires and
stoves, windows have an important
function in the architectural design of
many homes. Here are some examples of
various different types of windows:
Doors

Doors have long stood as the first and
most noticed part of a house. For this
reason, many different types of doors
have been designed and used for both a
functional and ascetic purpose. Here are
some examples of different door designs:
Porches

While the main function of a home is to be
a place of safety and protection, many
architects have also incorporated a place
where people can sit outside and enjoy
nature, while still having some aspect of
protection from the weather. Often we
refer to these areas as porches, which
come in many different architectural
designs.
Other Details

As one can see, houses have many different
types of the same basic architectural design
elements such as roofs, doors, windows, walls,
siding, and porches. These elements all serve
the same functional purpose, but offer different
visual and ascetic aspects. Here are some other
architectural design details that are some times
used in home designs for visual and ascetic
purposes.
Assignment

Now that you have a working idea of the various
different architectural design elements that are
used in the construction of homes, you will use
your Neighborhood Identification Worksheet of
General Architectural Design Elements to locate
at least two different types of architectural
designs for the following elements: Roofs,
Windows, Wall/Siding, Porches, Doors, and
Other Details.