Neoeclectic
During the late 1960s, a rebellion against modernism and a longing for more traditional styles influenced the design of modest tract housing in North America. Builders began to borrow freely from a variety of historic traditions, offering neoeclectic (or, neo-eclectic) houses that were “customized” using a mixture of features selected from construction catalogs. These homes are sometimes called postmodern because they borrow from a variety of styles without consideration for continuity or context. However, neo-eclectic homes are not usually experimental and do not reflect the artistic vision you would find in a truly original, architect-designed postmodern home.
Critics use the term McMansion to describe a neo-eclectic home that is oversized and pretentious. Coined from the McDonald’s fast food restaurant, the name McMansion implies that these homes are hastily assembled using cheaply-made materials and a menu of mix-and-match decorative details.
Typically have no porches, most have covered entryways. Usually have front facing gables. The main roof is usually a hip roof. Main roof ridges run both parallel and perpendicular to street. The exterior is clapboard or masonry (brick, stucco, stone).
A Neoeclectic home borrows characteristics from traditional styles such as:
- Second Empire
- Colonial Revival
- Greek Revival
- French
- Spanish Revival
- Tudor
- Queen Anne
Sources: About.com, HomePlannerAndGuide.com
