Chapter 6 The Evolution of Exteriors
185
and features requires careful planning to
coordinate and harmonize their impact.
Because of this, it is not as easy to classify
and describe Contemporary-style houses
as it is the purely traditional or purely
modern styles. Contemporary designs
may also vary widely from one to another
in shape, material usage, and details.
Many convey a custom or distinctive
one-of-a-kind design. The exterior may
be brick, siding, stucco, stone, concrete,
or a combination of these materials.
Roof styles used in contemporary
houses can also vary widely. While most
of these styles are used in traditional
houses, they can also be used in unique
ways for contemporary housing, 6-24.
Although contemporary houses do
not easily fi t into categories, there are
two distinct types that do. They are solar
houses and earth-sheltered houses.
Solar Houses
Solar energy is energy derived from
the sun. Today, many house designs
utilize solar energy. They can use either
active solar heating systems or passive
solar heating systems, 6-25A.
Houses with active solar heating
systems use special equipment, such as
panels installed in the roof of the build-
ing, to capture the sun’s energy. Then
fans and pumps move heated air or
liquid from the panels to a storage area
or wherever heat is needed.
Passive solar heating systems have no
working parts. Instead, they include any
design feature or construction material
that makes maximum use of the sun for
heating. A passive solar house might
include large areas of windows on
the home’s southern side. Reinforced,
concrete-pipe columns or dark-colored
walls may absorb heat from the sun and
gradually transfer it inside.
High-pitched gable
Mansard Flat Shed Dormer
Low-pitched gable Gambrel Hip
6-24
Roof styles have a
great effect on the
exterior design of
buildings.
6-23
This contemporary
house utilizes the
classic features of
a gambrel roof.
Photo Courtesy of JELD-
WEN Windows