Spanish colonial

Spanish Colonial usually have one story with a flat or low pitched roof. The buildings are usually made of thick adobe brick or rubble stones and covered with stucco. There are few windows because there was no glass when these were firt developed but they usually have several exterior doors. This style of house is found mostly in warmer climates, such as Florida, California, and Arizona, as well as South America.

Features

 * Located in the American South, Southwest, and California
 * One story
 * Flat roof, or roof with a low pitch
 * Earth, thatch, or clay tile roof covering
 * Thick walls made with rocks, coquina, or adobe brick coated with stucco
 * Several exterior doors
 * Small windows, originally without glass
 * Wooden or wrought iron bars across the windows
 * Interior shutters

History
Spanish colonial architecture came about in the early 1600's. These buildings are usually characterized by thick adobe walls with a protective layer of plaster or stucco. The buildings are typically one story that encircled a courtyard. The courtyard was usually some type of garden and most of the doors on the house would open to the porch for easy access to these gardens. It has a long narrow porch that is covered and is often accompanied by a balcony that is held up by columns found on the ground floor level. The roof is either flat or low pitched with red clay tiles that hang over the sides significantly.

Because glass was not common during the time of this building style's conception, windows were typically protected from ornamental grillwork. Shutters were commonly installed on the inside of the structure to protect the interior from storms. Doors to the various rooms opened directly onto a covered porch or onto a patio.

The style of this home changed slightly over the years, adding some height to the building and glass to the windows, but it usually kept the low pitched roof, the iron on the windows and the garden in the center. Also, most Spanish colonial homes today are still made with either a stucco or a plaster finish.

Architects
Notable architects associated with this style include: