Key Features of Different Times in House Design

1. Prehistoric to Ancient:

   • Features: People used materials from their surroundings like stone and wood. They had simple building methods.
   • Example: Mud-brick homes in Mesopotamia.
   • Fun Fact: The first structures we know of are from around 10,000 BC.

2. Classical (500 BC - 500 AD):

   • Features: Buildings had balanced shapes and used tall columns (like Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian styles).
   • Example: Roman houses called domus that had open areas called atriums.
   • Fun Fact: Classical styles influenced more than 80% of buildings in Europe after the Renaissance.

3. Medieval (500 - 1400 AD):

   • Features: Strong homes with thick walls, small windows, and roofs made of straw.
   • Example: Tudor-style houses with wooden frames.
   • Fun Fact: Families usually had 5-6 people living together, which meant homes had to serve many purposes.

4. Renaissance (1400 - 1600 AD):

   • Features: A return to balanced designs with classical elements and impressive looks.
   • Example: The Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Florence.
   • Fun Fact: Urban populations in Europe grew by 300% during this time, changing how homes were arranged.

5. Victorian (1837 - 1901):

   • Features: A mix of styles with fancy details and unique shapes.
   • Example: Queen Anne houses with their inviting wrap-around porches.
   • Fun Fact: By 1880, 65% of people in the U.S. lived in cities, which led to the rise of row houses.

6. Modern (1900 - 1950):

   • Features: Simple designs with open spaces that blended in with nature.
   • Example: Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie Houses.
   • Fun Fact: After World War II, about 26 million new homes were built in the U.S. from 1945 to 1960.

7. Postmodern (1970 - Present):

   • Features: Fun and creative designs that mixed different styles and looked to the past.
   • Example: The colorful Portland Building.
   • Fun Fact: The average size of homes in the U.S. grew from 1,400 square feet in 1973 to 2,600 square feet by 2019.