New Hampshire style?

[Kristen]

I am helping my boss with the design of a house (more specifically, the facades) for a friend of his....hard task! My boss has subsequently defined the taste of our client as New Hampshire style. I am not sure whether we in turn share the same definition of New Hampshire Style and what is "good" or "bad".

I believe I am looking for something which is quite simple in form, in timber, with a relatively steep sloping roof, short (or no) eaves, and many mullions in the windows (which i do not like....but the client does :bang head ). In fact, it is probably something that would have originated in Scandinavia....way back.
Would my interpretation be correct? :wondering

I'm having trouble finding references to support my theory. Can anyone help me with some references of houses which are in your opinion New Hampshire Style....or an interesting interpretation thereof.

[SWANK-E]

hey! welcome Kristen! glad you made it here

[Kristen]

Hi Kevin! It took a while but hopefully it is the start of something big :D

[arv]

Don't know if this (http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Zimmerman_House.html) qualifies for New Hamshire style but it is in New Hampshire .

Welcome aboard .

[ryarch]

I looked into 'The Field Guide to American Houses' (it's an incredible and comprehensive reference manual to residential construction styles in the USA). There is no reference to a 'New Hampshire' style. I think that the style of the area (NE USA) is varied depending on the time of reference, and location (urban, rural, farm). I'm not sure how to help you furhter without a little more information. It sounds a little like a rural farmhouse that you are looking for. They can come in a few styles: Greek revival, victorian, gothic revival, etc. Good Luck and get back to us.

[Kristen]

Thanks Arv.
Although one of many beautiful houses by flw, it wasn't really what I was thinking about.....but what I am looking for might not necessarily be correct either.

And thanks to Ryarch.
I do not feel that bad anymore not knowing what the style was when my boss mentioned it. I have been trying to find out ever since and make a play upon that. I think the rural farmhouse reference is pretty close to it. I've been thinking Amish, and the rural farmhouses in southern Sweden are probably the closest I've got. The next problem is that the site i suburban, not rural, so I wish to do something simple and stylish/slick rather that rustic and rural.
The thread about Bohlin Cywinski Jackson posted by jparchitectus caught my eye. Their Goosewing Farmhouse seems to fit in with my thinking but it seems a bit too traditional (a New Hampshire tradition????)...maybe their Forest House is an interesting play on that idea.
I've also looked at some of Steven Holls buildings and although stunning (he is a favourite :not worth ) they are a bit far off track.
I have found some very quaint simple houses in Sweden (Håbo Tibble Krykby) that also fit the description but unfortunately I don't have any images I can post.
Perhaps MVRDV's Hageneiland Housing (Waterwijk Ypenburg) http://www.mvrdv.nl/_v2/projects/071_waterwijk/index.html
is a good indication of what I am looking for in terms of form....but although fun, the buildings are a little too stripped back for my liking.

[ryarch]

I'm with you Kristen about Hageneiland Housing. Great project, but needs a series of buildings, or a campus, to get the message across. A single building insertion, or even two, in the style of HH, would be misinterpreted. Try this:
http://www.prospectnewtown.com/TourProspect/ThumbNails.asp

This is Prospect New Town. There is a thumbnail browser for the home types. You have to do a little looking, but there are a few gems in there. Nice contemporary detailing on traditional building types. Example below:

[ryarch]

I don't know if this is what you are after, but 1 more sample couldn't hurt:

[Kristen]

Thanks again ryarch. There are some really good examples there to draw upon....as you say contemporary detail on tradition building types. That is exactly what I am looking for.

Further exploration of some old thread on ppb² also revealed a reference to Hugh Newell Jacobsen. Some of their houses go right over the top but the ones based purely on simple traditional forms are really beautiful in their simplicity and also a good reference.

This ppb² is a goldmine!!!

[sigue2000]

Then you'll probably appreciate Pawson's attitude toward tradition.
Telluride (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348&highlight=pawson)
JP's Pawson thread (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1796&highlight=pawson)

[jparchitectus]

Thanks for the plug sigue. I have a book on nothing but this type of work. Let me see if I can locate it.

[BrianMyers]

I've been to New Hampshire before.

Take a look here: http://images.google.com/images?q=new+hampshire+architecture&hl=en&hs=nvc&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&tab=wi

Yes, its just a Google Image Search, but its really revealing toward the type of architecture you see in New Hampshire. Lots of brick and wood, it feels almost like you went back in time 80 years. These pictures (and pictures on the next few image search pages) should give you a better feeling for the area.

[Kristen]

Hi sigue and jp. What a beautiful house and use of materials. Thanks so much for the reference. I must check out more of Pawson's work. The use of materials and fine detailing externally, at least in the Telluride house, starts to remind me of Zumthor. I'm very interested if you can find the book you have on this type of work, even for future reference. It is certainly very appealing.

And thanks Brian. Good tip. I didn't even think about that funktion on Google.

[jesse]

I'm in the next state over (Maine), and grew up in northern Vermont, so northern New England is my home territory...

I'm going to suggest some books: (and amazon lets you browse inside for images)

Field Guide to New England Barns and Farm Buildings
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0874517710/102-8936932-2027354

Big House, Little House, Back House Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584653728/102-8936932-2027354

Architecture of the Shakers (the true ancient Modernists)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/088150310X/102-8936932-2027354

American Country Building Design : Rediscovered Plans for 19th-Century Farmhouses, Cottages, Landscapes, Barns, Carriage Houses & Outbuildings
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402723571/ref=wl_it_dp/102-8936932-2027354

One of my favorite books, an explanation of how the New England landscape has come to look the way it does, and how to see the signs of the past in the landscape:

Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881504203/102-8936932-2027354

Possible avenues for interpretations of classic styles:

Turner Brooks (one of the most inventive northern New England architects)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568980310

The Farmhouse : New Inspiration for the Classic American Home
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561586668/ref=wl_it_dp/102-8936932-2027354


Jesse Thompson
http://www.phil-kaplan.com