Medieval Architecture & Design: Types, Characteristics, and Buildings

The accounts and estimates of the current structures have been passed through oral records and examples. Medieval houses, constructed in diverse styles based on owner status and location, were typically two-storied timber structures, offering space for livestock, work, and comfortable living. Reflecting a simple and minimalistic lifestyle, these historical dwellings continue to captivate our fascination today, providing a glimpse into the lives of 5th-century inhabitants.

Medieval Church Architecture

In conclusion, the medieval house was an essential part of life during the Middle Ages. Whether it was a grand manor house or a humble vernacular house, the medieval house was designed to meet the needs of its occupants and provide shelter, security, and storage. Early Medieval houses were simple, with two rooms, limited ventilation, and small windows. Later Medieval noble houses were more extravagant, featuring a mix of timber and brick construction, tiled roofs, chimneys, and glass windows on two stories. Whether we are admiring the Tudor houses of England, the half-timbered houses of Germany, or the châteaux of France, medieval houses continue to captivate us with their charm.

The Enduring Legacy of Medieval Houses

By day, it might serve as a workspace or market stall, and by night, a communal area for storytelling or sharing meals. These interactions, centered around the home, were the threads that wove tight-knit medieval communities, proving that the influence of a house extended well beyond its walls. For instance, in some regions, a house with a grand fireplace and multiple chimneys signified prosperity, as it suggested the owners could afford the luxury of separate rooms with individual hearths. Similarly, homes with glazed windows or ornate carvings were indicative of a household with considerable means.

The Medieval House in the Later Medieval Period – Noblemen and Women

Grand country houses known as Pazo emerged in Iberia in the 17th century and were similar in form and function to manor houses. In Spain, fortified country palaces known as Alcázar were built between the 8th and 15th centuries, primarily by Muslim rulers. These sites were often fortified, owing to the incessant warfare that occurred across the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. The defence was never one of the true functions of the manor house – that need was fulfilled by medieval castles (and later on, forts).

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Some manor houses also had room for a chapel, although this was often a separate building, especially on larger and richer estates. This room was used by all member of the household for a religious ceremony, although there were often raised galleries for the higher status occupants of the manor house. Medieval manor houses were usually very grand imposing buildings, in accordance with the wealth of the Lord who owned it. Using the wattle and daub building method for medieval house design allowed two-story medieval cottages to be built with the second floor being reached by a Ladder. The construction of the Medieval house in towns (the town house) was chiefly determined by scarcity of space within the city walls, resulting in houses with many stores.

Q: What are some architectural features of medieval houses?

Although the church building is located away from houses today, evidence of medieval housing has been uncovered close to the church. Parish feasts would have been prepared and served here with the profits going to the church for funding. The rounded arch entrances and Gothic windows set into rounded arch openings suggest a Romanesque origin and later Gothic remodel. Medieval architecture changed throughout the centuries as building materials and the purpose of use of the buildings changed. Styles and appearance of buildings that were designed for religious, social, or residential purposes adapted and displayed different characteristics as the centuries passed. In the later medieval period, in particular, after the Black Death of 1384 killed a large portion of the population, there weren’t enough people to work the fields.

Poundstock – St Winwaloe’s Church

After drying, the walls would be trimmed and the next course built, with lintels for later openings such as doors and windows being placed as the wall takes shape. As we’ve mentioned on our previous article on medieval buildings types, different types of buildings had different requirements (longevity, defensive capabilities) as well as cost (in materials and/or time). Some large manor houses even had small gatehouses built into their circuit walls, equipped with drawbridges that could be raised in the event of a raid. Over time, manor houses became larger and incorporated more of these elements within a single structure.

Medieval Romanesque Architecture

Architect Charles MacDougal designed a gray stone structure with details that resembled a stereotypical castle. By the 1920s, Los Angeles was filled with talented craftspeople and artists from across the globe, lured by studio work. The city was flush with dramatic, newly monied movie moguls and stars looking for luxurious living quarters befitting their new status. Picturesque, idealized versions of everything from Mediterranean villas to Spanish Missions and Greek Revival plantations began to pop up everywhere.

Medieval Architecture & Design: Types, Characteristics, and Buildings

Its layout proved to be so useful that – centuries after the end of the Middle Ages – they remain popular around the world. Another manuscript that offers an interesting look at the interior of a peasant’s house is the Hours of Catherine of Cleves, which was made by the year 1440 by a Dutch artist. It has over 150 images in the work, two of which depict the Holy Family – Mary, Joseph and Jesus as a baby – within their home. They would have been depicted as a humble family, so it would have been appropriate that their home would emulate that of a peasant or lower-class household. Middle Ages butchers prepared meat, fish, and fowl for the people in a castle or a city. The second floor sometimes had a pergola, or a roofed passage with a staircase going down to the courtyard or the street.

There would have also been grand bed chambers, also richly decorated, for the lord of the manor. Generally, they included a great hall, which was used as the primary administrative and ceremonial room in the building. Manor houses were primarily luxurious living spaces, and therefore they varied hugely in size and appearance. Manor houses were therefore symbolic of the system of feudal manorialism and helped to establish and reinforce that system. Manor houses were therefore largely made up of luxurious rooms and bed chambers, not only to house the lord’s family but also to receive guests.

Outside, in the foreground two peasants work zealously; one chopping, the other gathering firewood. This house is solid and suggests a relatively comfortable living accommodation. The gable wall which is visible contains a doorway; it is half timber construction with timber posts used to frame the corners, the doorway opening, the crossbeam of the ceiling and the gable above. Some of the timbers used have been hewn; others, probably intended as replacements for damaged posts, remain in their natural state.

They had thatched roofs and were often single-room dwellings with a central hearth for cooking and heating. Travel back in time to the enchanting world of medieval houses and uncover the unique characteristics, architectural styles, and historical significance of these captivating structures. From the humble peasant cottages to grand manor houses, these buildings are steeped in cultural heritage and offer a glimpse into a bygone era. Join us on a journey of discovery through the fascinating history of medieval houses. In England in the 11th century the manor house was an informal group of related timber or stone buildings consisting of the hall, chapel, kitchen, and farm buildings contained within a defensive wall and ditch.

Arches, walls, and pillars were painted with rich colors and carved doorways had designs of animal faces, scallops, zigzags, or other decorative embellishments. The interiors of these churches were covered with bright tapestries and beautiful paintings. Viking boathouses were built for houseboats during the long harsh winter when they were not sailing. Boathouses were usually partially dug into the ground some distance back from the waterline. This article is part of our larger selection of posts about the medieval period. Landowners desperate for workers to harvest their crops began offering wages to anyone who would work on their land.

As the court was held in the manor house, the building itself came to represent the legal heart of a fief and was the place where tenants on the land would go for justice. A large manor house was a powerful statement of wealth and political prestige. However, it was not simply guests and other nobles that the owners of manor houses were attempting to impress.

The preservation of medieval houses involves various techniques, including structural repairs, conservation of original materials, and protection against environmental factors. Restoration efforts aim to revive the original design and appearance of a structure, often involving extensive research to ensure historical accuracy. In 1921, Einar C. Petersen, a Swiss-trained Danish artist, designed and built the still-standing Petersen Studio Court on Beverly Boulevard, considered the forerunner of the storybook style. The cottage community was based on Petersen’s hometown, the port of Ebeltoft, Denmark, a fishing village known for its ancient half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets.

Equally paramount was the location, which played a pivotal role in dictating the materials used and the ultimate design of the house. Resource availability, both in terms of raw materials and skilled craftsmen, was intrinsically tied to the locale, giving each region its unique architectural fingerprint. For the more massive structures or where stones were used extensively, more substantial equipment came into play. Treadwheel cranes, powered by men walking inside a large wheel, helped lift heavy stones.