Historic Guidelines - City of Melbourne, Florida

INTRODUCTION
Ranch
BACKGROUND
The Ranch style was originated in the mid-1930s by several creative California architects. It
gained in popularity during the 1940s to become the dominant style through out the country during
the decades of 50s and 60s. The popularity of the Ranch house was made possible by the country’s
increasing dependence on the automobile. The compact houses were replaced by Ranch houses
which were built on large pieces of land with covering maximum façade width. The width was further
increased by built-in garages that are integral part of most ranch houses.
The style is loosely based on early Spanish Colonial precedents of the American southwest,
modified by influences borrowed from Craftsman and Prairie modernism of the early 20th century.
BUILDING PLAN
1) Open floor plan in rectangular, L- or U-shaped configuration.
2) Garages and carports are in line with the main facade.
FOUNDATION
1) Continuous slab.
2) Brick or concrete footings.
FACADES
1) Asymmetrical facades.
2) Horizontal and rambling orientation.
3) Attached garages are common.
PORCHES
1) Integral/incised small porches, or small porticos/stubs in the less elaborate examples.
2) Decorative iron or simple wood supports.
Concrete Porch Surface
3) Concrete porch surface.
ROOF
1) One-story shape with low-pitched roofs.
2) Three common forms are used: the hipped version is
probably the most common, followed by the cross-gable,
and, finally, side-gabled examples.
3) Moderate or wide eve overhang. This may be either boxed
or open, with the rafters exposed as in Craftsman houses.
DRAFT
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