Foursquare

Black and white photo of a Foursquare style house.

A "textbook" Foursquare.

One of the most commonly found forms in Colorado residential buildings after 1900, the Foursquare is easily recognized by its square plan, two-story height and overall simplicity.  The majority of these houses were built during the first three decades of the twentieth century.

The typical Foursquare is a two-story hipped roof structure with central dormer, minimal decoration, broad overhanging eaves with brackets or modillions, classical frieze with dentils, and a porch, usually full-width with a hipped roof supported by Doric or Tuscan columns or by square posts.  Occasionally, a Foursquare will feature a shaped gable or will be considerably larger with more elaborate ornamentation.  In each case, the basic square plan is predominant.

The Foursquare is a basic residential form adaptable to many stylistic treatments.  ClassicalMission and Mediterranean elements may all be found on Foursquare residences.

Black and white Foursquare style house.

Large and elegant Foursquare.

Common elements:

  1. residential
  2. square plan
  3. front porch
  4. two or more stories
  5. unadorned exterior
  6. hipped roof
  7. shaped gable
  8. side bays
  9. Doric or Tuscan columns
  10. brackets
  11. square porch posts
  12. dentils
  13. classical frieze
  14. modillions
  15. roof overhang

<< Colorado's Historic Architecture & Engineering Guide