Architectural Styles Project Ardrey Kell High School Charlotte, NC Split Level Architecture

Architectural Style: Split Level History: Split Level architecture  was developed in the United States and was popular from the early 1950s until the mid 1980s. It was a modification to the popular ranch houses being built during the same time period, and was often called a raised ranch. Split levels were particularly popular because of the large amount of square footage that could be placed on a small lot and foundation. Split levels allow great separation between the floor plan zones of the house. Typically the upper floor housed the sleeping area, the main floor housed the formal living and dining rooms, as well as the kitchen, and the bottom floor housed the main living area…usually a den and office or extra bedroom and a ½ bath and laundry room.

Architectural Style: Split Level Characteristics: Split level homes typically have a low sloped gable or hip roof. B. Split level homes typically are built with brick veneer on the lower portion of the house, and siding on the upper floor. Brick on the upper floor would be too heavy to overhang (cantilever) the first floor. C. Split Level homes often have fireplaces built in the lower portion of the home in the den. The chimney climbs the tall side of the building The main floor contains the main entry door, and usually contains a large window over a small porch or planter box. E. The upper floor of split levels usually contains three bedrooms and two bathrooms. F. There are two short stairways that connect the 3 floors of a split level home. Usually there are 8 steps leading down from the kitchen, and 8 steps up to the sleeping area from the foyer (entry hall) G. Split levels provide a large amount of usable square footage for minimal cost making them one of the most efficient homes to build of all styles.

Examples of Split Level Architecture Split Foyer Home Mid Century Modern Split Level Upper floor overhangs the lower floor. Garage added to side of house. Split foyer homes are a variation on the split level. In a split foyer home, the front entry door opens to stairs that lead to either the upper floors, or the lower. You have to go one way or the other as there is no living space in the foyer.

Split Level Architecture All images used in this presentation are derived from internet sources. They are intended to be used for educational purposes only, and the author of this presentation makes no claim of ownership to these images. These images will be used solely for educational purposes.