We are beginning a series of of posts on several of the period revival home styles. Today’s post looks at what is arguably the most popular historic style, Tudor revival. When showing people homes in the various historic districts in Phoenix, AZ, clients are drawn to the often whimsical Tudor Revivals. In Phoenix, we are fortunate to have several historic districts and subdivisions with good examples of Tudor Revivals. At the end of this post we’ve included a slide-show tour featuring over thirty properties from several historic districts in the downtown and midtown Phoenix region.

TUDOR REVIVALS: A bit of history and information.

Tudor revival became especially popular with 1920s suburban homes, loosely based on their medieval for-bearers. Most believe the surge in Tudor Revivals, as well as other revival styles, was was a byproduct of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair where interpretations of European style homes was demonstrated. We believe the overall energy of the Roaring Twenties was equally responsible as architects and homeowners were living out the passion and glee of the times.

Tudor Revival homes are identified by their elevations with ornamental half-timbering, a medieval English building tradition, often with stucco or masonry veneered walls, steeply pitched multi-gabled roof lines, massive chimneys, distinctive entryways and muti-paned casement windows.

As noted above, we mention decorative half timbering, sometimes referred to as false timbering. In European Tudors, as well as other English style homes, it was common to have exposed timbers on the home’s facings. However, in the United States the extremes in weather caused leakage problems. Thus, the timbers we commonly see are ornamental in nature and are not integral with the home’s structure.

Below is a slide show tour of several Tudor Revival Style homes in the downtown and midtown Phoenix area. Most of the photos were taken in Encanto-Palmcroft, Cherry Lynn and Willow with a few coming from other Phoenix historic districts. In general, you’ll be more apt to find Tudor revivals in areas where home building occurred prior to 1934. This is largely due to the influence FHA had on the home building industry in the mid-1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. Hope you enjoy the photos.

TUDOR REVIVAL HISTORIC HOMES TOUR:

Gene Urban & Ron Urban
The Urban Connection Team
602-234-5777

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