45+ Facts About Different Styles And Designs Of Houses Around The World

There is no one style or design of houses that is universally loved.

People around the world have different preferences. This is reflected in the variety of houses that can be found in different parts of the globe.

There are all sorts of different designs and styles of houses around the world, each designed to meet the needs of the people who live in them. Some people prefer sleek and modern designs, while others prefer quaint and traditional styles.

Whether you're eyeing up a new home or just curious about how other people live, read on for some fascinating insights into house styles from all corners of the Earth!

Types Of Houses

Houses around the world are built based on factors such as climate, geography, and cultural preferences. The requirements of each home differs from region to region. We'll take a look at some of the most interesting and unique houses from around the world. So come along and explore some amazing dwellings!

• Static caravans are a kind of holiday home that have become popular across many countries in Europe. Unlike touring caravans, these are brought directly to a holiday park and stay immobile for a long duration.
• A static caravan looks and functions like a regular home, with all the amenities of a regular home. These serve as a comfortable mobile home for families visiting regular holiday spots.
• Rondavels are traditional homes built in a round shape, found in various countries of southern Africa such as Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, and South Africa.
• These round homes were traditionally made from locally sourced organic materials. Their walls were made of sand, stone, or a mixture of these materials with dung. Rondavels have thatched roofs.
• With modern constructions materials available today, these houses are made with materials like cement and bricks as well.
• Originally used as hunting lodges, today such houses are bought by people looking for affordable and sustainable housing.
• The Cappadocia region in central Turkey is one of the world's most fascinating landscapes. It is a rocky region dotted by rock houses carved out of outcroppings. These rock houses date back centuries.
• The cave homes of Cappadocia are carved into natural structures in a way that allows inter-passing between each house.
• Entire subterranean cities can be found in Cappadocia, crafted to sit effortlessly in the rock formations!
• These houses served as everything from temples to tombs. The Cappadocia region's cave homes have seen the rise and fall of several civilisations.
• Originally inhabited by cave-dwellers, the houses were fairly easy to make as a sedimentary stone is a soft material. The rock houses of Turkey are occupied to this day.
• Yurts, or gers, are round, portable tents constructed using a lattice-like structure and covered by fabric or animal skins. The animal skins used provided protection from rain and heat.
• These dwellings were the primary style of housing in central Asian countries like Mongolia for many millennia.
• It takes about 30 minutes to three hours to set up or dismantle a yurt. They have a gently sloping roof and a long chimney that stretches out through the middle of the roof.
• Yurts have been significant throughout history. For example, Genghis Khan, the fierce warrior, and ruler commanded his expansive empire from a large tent about 30 ft (9.1 m) wide!
• Dugouts are underground homes found in the Coober Pedy town of southern Australia. The town is a mining location for opals and experiences scorching summers and harsh winters. Hence, the residents of Coober Pedy live in underground houses dug into the rocks to keep themselves comfortable.
• Faye's Underground Home is a famous dugout of Coober Pedy: built over the course of 10 years by three women, the expansive 70s home is fully furnished with everything from a bar to a swimming pool!
• Although Iceland is a beautiful natural landscape, the area is quite uninhabitable due to the harsh climate. The turf houses commonly seen in Iceland were brought to by Vikings in the ninth century to deal with this problem!
• Most turf houses had a wooden structure dug into the ground and a roof jutting out, lined with turf. This ensures better insulation and is an eco-friendly housing method.
• Rooms in turf houses are located a little below the frost line to provide more warmth. This was done because the ground in Iceland prevents freezing a couple of feet into the ground.
• The traditional Pueblo Indian tribe in the southwestern U.S. used to live in houses made of adobe, called pueblo houses.
• Pueblo houses have multiple stories with thick walls, constructed in a stepped way that allows the roof of the floor below to serve as the terrace of the floor above.
• At the turn of the 21st century, these houses began to be constructed in a more modern way, using new architecture and building materials.
• Trulli houses are found in the Apulian region of Italy. These are traditional stone houses with pointed, conical roofs that were built as storage spaces for farmers or proprietors.
• Due to their intended purpose, Trulli houses were built without a lot of space from each other. Coincidentally, this suits modern urban architecture!
• If you're ever lucky enough to have a treehouse in your backyard, you'd know that it's one of the best things ever. Treehouses have conventionally been built as play forts for children, mounted on sturdy tree trunks and branches.
• Not only is it a fun place to play, but it can also be a great place to hang out and relax. It is for this reason that many adults have built sophisticated, elaborate treehouses with all the luxuries of a home on the ground!
• Residential treehouses can be found in all forms and styles around the world, from hippy and quaint to sleek and modern. Many resorts and holiday homes provide treehouses as a stay option too.
• Tree houses also have the added advantage of not being subject to the same kind of laws and regulations as real estate properties.
• Honai homes are rounded houses native to Central Papua, Indonesia. Built in mountainous regions, the house is built from wooden beams and has thatched roofs. To provide better insulation, walls are lined with woven bamboo.
• Tiny houses are economical alternatives to standard housing. A culture now seen widely in different parts of the U.S., tiny houses are built on wheels that allow the user to take it wherever they find suitable.
• Tiny houses are called so because of how small they are. Although these houses are small, they are designed to fit all the comforts of a regular-sized house into the limited space.

Unique Features About Traditional Houses

Houses are treasured by their owners. They hold sentimental value to most people who live in them and are often passed on from generation to generation.

As a result, you will find traditional houses around the world even though a lot of people tend to build modern homes today. Read on to learn about the types of houses that were traditionally built in the U.S.

• Cape Cod is one of the earliest housing styles in the U.S. Traditional houses in the Cape Cod style usually have a five-bay facade, a low roof, and a large central chimney. Cape Cods are commonly single-storied and have very few rooms due to their limited interior space. These features made it easy to keep the home warm.
• The Colonial style was extremely popular in America in the past, due to which you can find Colonial houses all across the country. Colonial houses are characterized by their simple, geometrical facade and classical entryways with pilasters or columns.
• This style of architecture was popularized during the era of the American colonies, which is where the name is derived from. They were an evolved, larger version of the log cabin.
• Shotguns are single-story, narrow houses that originated in New Orleans during the beginning of the 19th century. It is a small space with a porch on the southern facade.
• Shotgun houses are called so because of their linear front-to-back arrangement. If you were to shoot a bullet through the front door, it would come out the back door!
• Saltbox houses are traditional houses with a neat facade along, stooping asymmetrical roof. They first appeared in the U.S. around 1650 and were very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• These houses are called Saltboxes because they resemble the shape of salt containers used in the 18th century.
• Foursquare is a permanent housing design that was popular during the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were the comfortable and economical housing style after the Victorian era.
• Split-level houses are structures whose interiors are built on multiple planes. They have different levels connected by stairs and feature long bay windows.
• The split-level style became popular in the '50s due to families shifting to more suburban areas. A residential building like this would be produced a lot because they were cheap and easy to construct.
• Ranches are perhaps the most common type of house seen in the U.S. At the end of World War One, there was a massive demand for housing. As an affordable option, the suburban ranch became popular.
• Ranch houses have a single story and low gabled roof, punctuated by a long profile. With its appearance of being close to the ground, ranches were the perfect style to achieve a casual and roomy home.
• The classic cottage seen across the U.S. is actually an evolution of the Cape Cod style. Cottage houses have simple facades and are pleasant to the eyes. They are characterized by gabled roofs, stucco walls, bay windows, and porches.

Fun Facts About Different Types Of Houses

Have you ever wondered why houses in different parts of the world look different? There are lots of different reasons for this, but two major factors are climate and culture. Read on to uncover some fun facts about houses in different countries!

• Hot countries usually have houses with big roofs to keep the sun out, while cold countries often have houses with thick walls to keep the heat in.
• African architecture is heavily influenced by centuries of exposure to foreign cultures. For example, the design of houses in North Africa is influenced by its historical ties with Islam and Christianity.
• A common characteristic of traditional houses across the continent is the concept of fractal scaling, where smaller structures look akin to larger ones. A good example would be a town laid out in grids having houses that are box-shaped.
• African styles incorporate natural resources and vegetation into the design of houses. Most houses in rural areas are built from natural materials like mudbrick and stone.
• There are several popular interior design themes based on French architecture. A popular style of French housing is the French Country style.
• The French Country style refers to the warm, rustic look and feel of farmhouses found in rural France. These quaint structures are built with largely natural materials, although combined with contemporary construction methods today.
• French country houses are characterized by features like arched doorways, large windows, exposed beams, and brickwork.
• In India, housing styles vary greatly from modern apartments to traditional houses from generations past. Several types of huts and natural structures can be found in most rural villages. India is a country rich in vernacular architecture.
• In southern parts of the country, traditional houses are built with tiled roofs sometimes lined with wooden beams. This helps houses stay cool in the harsh summers.
• In northern India, the design of traditional family homes varies from region to region. However, they have some common features like a multi-storied structure, an open inner courtyard, thick pillars, and elaborate doorways.

Did You Know...

Houses come in all shapes and sizes - some are small, and some are big. Some have lots of rooms, and some don't have any at all.

Some people live in houses that are made out of bricks, and other people live in houses that are made out of wood. Read on for some fun trivia about houses around the world!

• The simple treehouse has been innovatively crafted into awe-inducing structures around the world. The Three Story Treehouse in British Columbia, Canada features a tall, fairytale-like treehouse built on three stories!
• Traditional carriage houses are buildings that are used to house horses and carriages. After horse carriages went out of use, owners would convert a carriage house into a guest house or use them as detached homes.
• Hong Kong is a populous city where apartments and housing options are very expensive. Locals near the inland waters reside in Sampans, which are flat-bottomed boats made of wood.
• Venice, Italy is one of the most fascinating architectural sites. Here, you will find an entire city 'floating' on the water! The houses and other buildings in Venice don't actually float. However, they are built entirely on a foundation of tree trunks and stilts.
• You might have noticed that a good majority of farmhouses are painted red. Although painting farmhouses red has become somewhat of a tradition now, it actually had practical origins.
• Centuries ago, farmers did not have the luxury to choose paints or sealants for their barns. Hence, they would mix ferrous oxide or rust in a mixture of oil to treat their wood. Rust was toxic to microbes that would otherwise cause decay in the wood of the barns, so it was a cheap and effective agent.
• The original farmhouses did not have the bright red coat you see today, they were more of a burnt-orange hue as this was the shade produced by rust.
• Victorian homes are known for their opulent elegance, but did you know that they are very similar to dollhouses? That's right! Victorian houses are made of several different components that can be bought and assembled separately, much like a dollhouse.