western-north-carolina-golf.htm

The period following the end of World War I marked the beginning of several picturesque styles that became very popular in the United States. Troops returning from war sparked a general fascination with the rural European buildings they had seen. The simple forms, solid building materials, and centuries of age had made rural French and English towns among the most picturesque places on Earth. Several photographic journals, as well as magazines popular with both architects and consumers frequently featured examples of these idealistic rural settings. Classically trained architects of the day, such as Mellor, Meiggs, and Howe in New England, and Philip Shutze and Neel Reid in the South, became very adept at adapting these styles to American tastes and trends. They took these examples, and were able to design quite convincing replicas of the original buildings, combining period details with modern features and amenities. One of the most popular of these styles was the English Country, or Cotswold Style, which became extremely popular in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. These buildings featured very prominent steeply pitched, complex gabled rooflines, often combined with irregularly coursed stone exterior walls. Casement windows, timbered eaves, and extensive garden walls were hallmarks of the style. Secondary materials included simple butt-joint or lap siding. The style varies greatly between more formal Tudor directions and simpler rural derivations. These more formal renditions often included cast stone entryways, as well as stucco with half-timbering. Chimneys were prominently and sculpturally displayed, using multiple chimney pots to accentuate the random, organic quality of the style. English Country style was adapted and used in a variety of building types from modest c o t t a g e s , grand estates, country clubs, universities, and ecclesiastical buildings. Examples can be found across the country, mainly because the style adapts quite well in both suburban and mountain settings. Because of the rural character of the style, colors begin with the masonry color and generally stay in the range of earth tones. Roofing is typically slate or English tile. Leaded glass casement windows are often grouped into bands, piercing thickened masonry walls.