Visalia City Council
August 21, 2023

Visalia Architectural Style GuideVisalia Architectural Style Guide403 North Floral StreetPublished by the City of Visalia Historic Preservation Advisory CommitteePublished by the City of Visalia Historic Preservation Advisory Committee 1 Introduction & How to Use This Style Guide
Visalia was founded in 1852 and incorporated as a city in 1874. Through the efforts of the City of Visalia, building owners, and citizen volunteers, much of Visalia’s historic fabric has survived to the present day. The City’s Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) continues those efforts by overseeing the Historic District, the Local Register of Historic Structures, and implementation of the Historic Preservation Ordinance. Buildings listed on the Local Register are classified according to the architectural styles that are presented here. Because Visalia was founded over 150 years ago, many types of architectural styles are present in the City. Trends, population size, economic conditions and the availability of building materials influenced architecture at different stages as the city grew over time. This guide covers Visalia’s major architectural styles and their subsets. It is organized into two sections: Part I: Residential and Religious Buildings and Part II: Commercial, Professional and Civic Buildings. Each page contains a photo example of the style of architecture, as well as bullet points that describe architectural features that are typical of each style. These common features may or may not be present on a building of a particular style. Each page notes the years in which these styles were popularly built.This guide can help building owners determine the style of their structure and serve as a reference guide for those who are interested in local architecture.Note: Some of the buildings pictured in this guide are not listed on the Local Register of Historic Structures; however, they are considered excellent examples of their style and have notable architectural flair. 1525 West Burrel Avenue2
Contents
•Part I: Residential and Religious Buildings (Page 4)•Victorian Styles: Gothic, Italianate, Stick (Eastlake), Second Empire, Queen Anne, Victorian Shingle, Folk (Pages 5-12)•Vernacular Style (Pages 13-14)•Period Revival Styles: Colonial, Dutch Colonial, Mission, Tudor, Neoclassical, Pueblo, Spanish Colonial, French Vernacular, Mediterranean, Monterey (Pages 15-25) •Cluster Cottages/Bungalow Courts (Pages 26-27)•Arts & Crafts Styles: Craftsman Shingle, Craftsman Bungalow, Airplane Bungalow, Prairie (Pages 28-32)•Modern Styles: Art Deco, Minimal Traditional, Mid-Century, Ranch/Rambler (Pages 33-37)•Part II: Commercial, Professional and Civic Buildings (Page 38)•Styles: Renaissance Revival, Italianate, Vernacular, Mission Revival, Neoclassical Revival, Art Deco, Art Moderne, International/Modernist, Brutalist (Pages 39-47)•Sources and Suggested Reading (Page 48)•Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) Contact and Meeting Information (Page 49) 204 East Oak Avenue3
Part I : Residential and Religious Buildings100 West School Avenue300 West Grove Avenue208 West Grove Avenue609 South Church Street514 East Center Avenue4 Victorian Style1860-1910Homes that were built during the reign of Queen Victoria of Britain that are typically of wood construction and highly ornamented614 South Court Street5 Gothic1840-1900•Pointed arches as a decorative element•Front facing gables •Steeply pitched roof•Decorative trim/bargeboard•Board and batten siding 1015 North Stevenson Street6
Italianate1845-1900•Cornice with decorative brackets•Wide overhanging eaves•Narrow windows•Window crowns•Single story porches•Cupola or square tower•Decorative quoins 910 South Court Street7
Stick (Eastlake)1855-1900•Steeply pitched gable roof•Cross gables•Decorative trusses at gable peak•Overhanging eaves with exposed rafters•Clapboard siding•Decorative wood trim (stickwork)•Porches with curved or diagonal bracing•Towers 513 North Encina Street8
Second Empire1860-1900•Mansard style roof•Patterned shingle roof•Iron roof crest•Decorative window surrounds and dormers•Eaves with brackets•Single story porches•Decorative quoins•Balustrades 609 North Encina Street9
Queen Anne1880-1910•Abundance of decorative elements•Steeply pitched roof, often irregularly shaped •Asymmetrical façade•Large partial or full-width porch•Round or polygonal corner tower•Decorative spindle work on porches and trim•Columns or turned posts on porches•Projecting bay windows 617 North Encina Street10
Victorian Shingle1880-1905•Shingled walls and roof•Asymmetrical facade•Irregular roof lines•Moderately pitched roofs•Cross gables•Extensive wide porches•Small sash or casement windows with many panes•Round or polygonal shingled towers and projecting bays•Shingles painted or naturally weathered•Presence of Queen Anne details 307 West Murray Avenue11
Folk1880-1910•Square shaped smaller versions of Queen Anne style homes•Façade may be symmetrical or asymmetrical•Spindle work on porches•Prominent front-facing gable•Bracketed eaves•Clapboard siding•Single story 601 West Goshen Avenue12
Vernacular Style1880-1910Homes that were built of simpler designs, using local builders and readily available building materials721 West Goshen Avenue13 Vernacular Examples
624 South Locust Street731 West Goshen Avenue309 Northwest 1stAvenue722 West Goshen Avenue•Typically single story•Board and batten or clapboard siding•Single-paned, double hung windows•Full width or small entry porches•Simple decorative brackets or columns•Cross gable roofs•Raised foundations14 Period Revival Style1880-1955Homes that were designed to mimic an earlier architectural era from either the United States or Europe727 South Court Street15 Colonial Revival 1885-1915•Columned porch or portico•Front door sidelights•Pedimented door, windows or dormers•Broken pediment over front door•Pilasters•Symmetrical Facade•Double-hung windows, often multi-paned•Bay windows or paired or triple windows•Decorative pendants•Cornice with dentils or medallions 407 Northeast 1stAvenue16
Dutch Colonial Revival 1890-1930•Gambrel roof•Long overhanging eaves•Natural materials•Fireplace and chimney•Sash windows•Wooden shutters•Dutch door 504 West Grove Avenue17
Mission Revival 1890-1930•Mission-shaped roof parapet•Wide, overhanging eaves with decorative brackets•Red clay roof tiles•Arched doorways•Deep window openings without any framing, except the sill•Inspired by the California missions 320 North Court Street18
Tudor Revival 1890-1930•Steeply pitched roof•Cross gables•Decorative half-timbering•Prominent chimneys•Narrow multi-pane windows•Entry porches or gabled entry•Patterned stonework or brickwork•Overhanging gables or second stories•Parapeted or Flemish gable 722 North Willis Street19
Neoclassical Revival 1895-1950•Symmetrical, usually with center door•Front facade columned porch•Full height porch with classical columns•Front facing gable on porch or main roof•Decorative door surrounds, columns, or sidelights•Side or front portico or entry porch•Dentiled cornice 401 West Grove Avenue20
Pueblo Revival 1900-1940•Can be made of adobe, but usually constructed of stucco or concrete•Simple, flat roofs•Projecting wood beams•Simple windows without decoration•Clay tile may be present •May contain heavy ceiling beams, porch posts, and doors•Usually one story 815 South Court Street21
Spanish Colonial Revival (Spanish Eclectic)1915-1940•Low-pitched, clay tile roof•Round arches at entryway, porch or windows•Porch arcade with columns, sometimes spiraled•Low-relief carving at doorways, windows and cornices•Stucco exterior walls•Elaborately carved doors•Decorative window grills of wood or iron•Balconies or terraces 301 North Fairway Street22
French Vernacular Revival 1915-1940•Rectangular in shape•One or two rooms deep•French doors that connect the indoors to the outdoors•Casement windows•Very steeply pitched roof•Decorative quoins•Centrally located chimneys 1320 West Main Street23
Mediterranean Revival 1920-1940•Clay tile roofs•Ornate archways•Wrought iron balconies, window grilles, and decorations•Walls are usually stucco•Facades can be asymmetrical or symmetrical•May contain elements of Spanish Revival or Mission Revival architecture 1914 West Green Acres Drive24
Monterey1925-1955•Typically two stories•Clay tile or asphalt shingle shallow-pitched roofs•Second story cantilevered balcony•Elements of Spanish colonial architecture may be present•Large brackets that support the porch 1543 Sierra Drive25
Cluster Cottages(Bungalow Courts)1920-1940Clusters of smaller individual dwelling units built around a central courtyard307 West School Avenue26 Cluster Cottage Examples
•Single story•3 or more individual dwellings•Central courtyard or walkway•Casement or double hung windows•Often Period Revival or Craftsman in style•Small footprint – ‘cottage size’706 – 708 West Main Street508 – 516 South Court Street27 Arts & Crafts Style1880-1930Homes that were built with rustic materials such as wood, brick, stucco or river rock - these homes emphasize the outdoor lifestyle by typically containing porches, balconies and many windows500 North Encina Street28 Craftsman Shingle1900-1920•Shingled walls and roof•Asymmetrical facade•Irregular roof lines•Moderately pitched roofs•Cross gables•Extensive wide porches•Small sash or casement windows with many panes•Round or polygonal shingled towers•Presence of clinker brick 437 South Church Street29
Craftsman Bungalow1900-1930•One or two stories in height•Overhanging eaves with exposed rafters or braces•Front facing gables•Multi pane windows•Low pitched gable or hipped roof•Full or partial front porch with sturdy (often square and tapered) columns•Prominent gabled or shed roofed dormers•Presence of clinker brick 501 South Court Street30
Airplane Bungalow1900-1930•One and a half stories in height•Overhanging eaves with exposed rafters or braces•Front facing gables•Multi pane windows•Low pitched gable or hipped roof•Full or partial front porch with sturdy (often square and tapered) columns•Prominent gabled or shed roofed dormers•Single room on second story surrounded by windows•Presence of clinker brick 614 West Kaweah Avenue31
Prairie1900-1920•Low pitched hipped roof•Wide overhanging eaves•Emphasis on horizontal lines•Massive square porch columns•Paired double hung windows 506 North Court Street32
Modern Style1920-1980Homes that were built with a focus on function rather than ornamentation, utilizing innovative technologies and building materials1506 West Burrel Avenue33 Art Deco1900-1940•Smooth wall surface•Sharp edged, linear appearance•Stylized decorative elements using geometrical forms, zigzags, chevrons•Low relief decorative panels•Stepped or set back front facade•Strips of windows with decorative spandrels•Reeding and fluting around doors and windows•Use of glass block for windows 1610 West Main Street34
Minimal Traditional1935-1950•Minimalized version of eclectic styles that were popular in the 1920s•Hipped or gabled roofs without large projecting eaves•Cladded in locally popular materials like wood or brick•Small porches•Asymmetrical facades•Off-center front door 1721 West Burrel Avenue35
Mid-Century1945-1960•Clean, minimal lines•Broad roof overhangs•Walls of glass and large windows•Open and well-defined floorplans•Modern and traditional building materials•A relationship to the outside environment•Asymmetrical designs 1405 West Main Street36
Ranch (Rambler)1945-1970•Single story•Asymmetrical shape•Low-pitched roof•Simple, open floorplans•Connection to outdoors (patio)•Attached garage•Can be shingle, clapboard or board and batten siding 1601 West Beverly Drive37
Part II : Commercial, Professional and Civic Buildings210 North Court Street 707 West Acequia Avenue404 North Tipton Street308 West Main Street520 East Mineral King Avenue38 Renaissance Revival1840-1920•Intricately patterned, wide decorative cornice•Vertical bands of windows•Terra cotta or plaster panels with sculptural ornamentation•Flat roof with deep projecting eaves•Multi-storied (6 or more floors)•Buildings have three distinct sections: top, middle and bottom 128 East Main Street39
Italianate1845-1900•Cornice with decorative brackets•Wide overhanging eaves•Narrow windows•Window crowns•Single story porches•Cupola or square tower•Decorative quoins 120 East Oak Avenue40
Vernacular1880-1910•Feature simpler designs, using local builders and readily available building materials•Typically brick•One to three stories•Decorative parapets or cornices•Originally built for commercial or industrial use 510 East Acequia Avenue41
Mission Revival1890-1930•Mission-shaped roof parapet•Wide, overhanging eaves with decorative brackets•Red clay roof tiles•Arched doorways•Deep window openings without any framing, except the sill•Inspired by the California missions 112 East Oak Avenue42
Neoclassical Revival1895-1950•Formal symmetrical design, usually with center door•Front facade columned porch•Full height porch with classical columns•Front facing gable•Broken pediment over entry •Decorative door surrounds, columns, or sidelights•Front portico or entry porch•Dentiled cornice•Roof line balustrade 119 South Locust Street43
Art Deco1920-1940•Smooth wall surface•Sharp edged, linear appearance•Stylized decorative elements using geometrical forms, zigzags, chevrons•Low relief decorative panels•Stepped or set back front facade•Strips of windows with decorative spandrels•Reeding and fluting around doors and windows•Use of glass block for windows 111 West Acequia Avenue44
Art Moderne1920-1940•Considered a subset of Art Deco architecture•Smooth wall surface, usually stucco•Flat roof•Horizontal emphasis•Curved corners or windows•Aluminum or stainless-steel detailing•Use of glass block for windows 604 South Mooney Boulevard45
International/Modernist1930-1965•Clean, minimal lines•Broad roof overhangs•Walls of glass and large windows•Open and well-defined floorplans•Modern and traditional building materials•A relationship to the outside environment•Asymmetrical designs 315 South Johnson Street46
Brutalist1960-1980•Rough, unfinished surfaces•If present, windows are inconspicuous and small•Unusual shapes•Heavy-looking materials•Heavy massing•Straight lines•Little to no ornamentation 217 West Acequia Avenue47
Sources & Suggested Reading
•Baker, John Milnes. American House Styles A Concise Guide. Norton & Company, Incorporated, W .W., 1994. •Howe, Jeffery W . The Houses We Live In: An Identification Guide to the History and Style of American Domestic Architecture. PRC Publishing Ltd., 2002. •LaChiusa, Chuck. “Illustrated Architecture Dictionary.” Illustrated Architecture Dictionary, https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/vocab.html. •“PHMC Historic Architectural Styles in Pennsylvania.” PHMC Pennsylvania Architectural Field Guide, http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/architecture/styles/index.html. •“Types of Architecture Study Guide.” Study.com | Architecture Study Guide, https://study.com/academy/course/types-of-architecture-study-guide.html. •Photography and Guide Design by Tyler Davis2018 West Green Acres Drive48 Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC)Contact and Meeting Information •The HPAC Administers and carries out the standards and specifications of the Historic Preservation Ordinance.•When: Meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM•Where: City of Visalia Administration Building Conference Room, 220 North Santa Fe Street, Visalia, CA 93292 (enter using door located to the left of the main entrance, on the north face of the building)•Contact: Staff Liaison Cristobal Carrillo at (559) 713-4443 or [email protected]•Historic Preservation Advisory Committee Website: https://www.visalia.city/government/committees/historic_preservation_advisory_committee.asp•City of Visalia Historic Preservation Ordinance: https://www.visalia.city/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=7346•Local Register of Historic Structures: https://www.visalia.city/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=12377206 North Encina Street49