Learn the main characteristics of mission style houses
This style of building was originally built in California. Many of the earliest houses built in this style are located in San Diego. At a time when all architectural styles originated in the East, this was the first one to spread from the West. The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads used the mission style for their depots and hotels, trying to create a theme for travelers. All of this helped spread the style somewhat eastward across the region. Despite this, it is rare to see mission style homes outside of the southwestern states.
How can you tell mission style architecture from other Spanish inspired styles? One of the main characteristics of the mission style is the use of exterior stucco walls. Stucco is a cement mixture that is used as siding on a home or building. To create stucco, cement is combined with water. Other materials such as sand or lime are mixed in to create texture. Before applying the cement mixture, the wooden walls of the structure are covered with tar paper and chicken wire or metal screening. The stucco mixture is layered on top. Mission style stucco walls are usually white and primarily unornamented, creating a very distinctive simple look.
Another common feature of this style is a low wall that runs along the edge of the roof, commonly called a parapet. The parapets on mission style houses are usually curved, similar to the Alamo building in Texas. A small round window may be in the center of the gable. Instead of a round window, many houses of this style have a quatrefoil window. A quatrefoil window has four lobes, making it look somewhat like a flower. This is the main feature that easily distinguishes mission style from the similar Mediterranean style.
Also widespread in mission style architecture is an arcade. A series of arches supported by large square columns forms a large entry porch, an arcade. These deeply shaded porches are well suited to the warmer climates of the Southwest US. Arcades, as well as windows, often have semicircular openings. Some other notable features of this style are the distinctive red roof tiles and arched windows. Larger buildings commonly have bell towers, sometimes twin bell towers, and iron balconies
The overall look of mission style architecture is simplicity. In contrast to the ornate style of Spanish Colonial Revival, mission style has very little decorative details. Often the only detailing, although minimal is around the windows.
