It seems to me that most major cities have a certain distinctive style or styles of housing that set that city apart. These styles are easily recognizable not only as being from a specific country, but as being from that specific city. In this thread you can post pictures of the distinctive styles of housing that your city has developed- housing that would be easily recognizable in a picture as your city. :)

Here in Baltimore, USA the main feature of the urban landscape is row houses. Some of the distinctive row house styles that we have developed here in Baltimore include:
The swell-front row house, as seen here in the Hampden neighborhood:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/139406553_022d56c76c.jpg?v=0
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2559495/2/istockphoto_2559495-row-houses.jpg
The most ubiquitous row house in the city, however, and the one that most represents Baltimore is the green-tiled overhang with porch. These can be seen in almost every neighborhood; these are in Coldstream:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/1509809991_13243c5bc7.jpg?v=0
Baltimoreans in many neighborhoods, particularly south and east of the CBD, have adopted the unique practice of building rooftop decks on top of their row houses:
http://csmedia.mris.com/platinum/getmedia?ID=90193244373&LOOT=50000881743
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/386098898_3a4cebb02f.jpg
Finally, we have adopted the practice of covering old brick row houses in fake stone called formstone. I haven't seen this anywhere except Baltimore:
http://www.monumentalcity.net/streets/paving/brickbouldin.jpg
http://www.caplans.com/Realestate/206Higland.jpg

Mexico City must be these kind of XIXcentury combined with art deco in Roma and Condesa neighbourhoods

Colonia Roma y Colonia Condesa, Ciudad de México


http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5109/0000015so1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/299/0000016ci5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/958/0000017oc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Las calles de la colonia roma, a mi parecer son románticas.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/207/0000018ec6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/3461/0000019xw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2382/0000020of0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9951/0000021fk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5909/0000022nh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/43/0000025wj2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Algunas casas de Obregón están siendo restauradas y usadas como oficinas o restaurantes.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3327/0000027lm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

El camellon de esta avenida se encuentra engalanado con hermosas esculturas y fuentes.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2087/0000029sx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5157/0000030yn0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6792/0000031ih0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/185/0000032vr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2334/0000033db2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/6010/0000034am1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2325/0000035zx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1122/0000038ir0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9999/0000040lj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/460/0000043qa4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7173/0000044ml1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/741/0000045ey5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2871/0000046wp3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Esta hermosa construcción ahora es un centro cultural denominado Casa Lam, originalmente fue las oficinas de urbanización de la colonia, ahí iba uno y elegía el lote que quisiera comprar.

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9346/0000047zq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/881/0000048js1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7508/0000051ll0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Eso es todo por el momento pero me falta la mitad de fotos por subir, cuando tenga tiempo lo haré, gracias por sus comentarios.


Continuando me desvíe hacia el sur, a un jardín hermoso, creo que se llama plaza Orizaba, no estoy seguro, siempre la había conocido de noche ya que en ella se ubicaba una disco gay muy chida pero la verdad cuando llegaba no me fijaba mucho en ella.

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/8439/0000052si1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/225/0000055uv7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9696/0000056lo3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7553/0000058hv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1139/0000059pf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7269/0000061rf0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7366/0000062qw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2424/0000065ip0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7515/0000068od8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1931/0000070xt6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7596/0000071qo4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/5567/0000072qj1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3461/0000073wr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/9490/0000075ct3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7903/0000077vp8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/7189/0000078ii1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9227/0000079cs4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

El domingo estaba viendo la TV cuando pasaron en el canal 11 un programa sobre la colonia roma, y hablaron de la romita, el pueblo original que se ubicaba al oriente de la colonia y quedo inmerso en ella, es bien raro ya que pues el estilo afrancesado de la colonia contrasta intensamente con estas cuadritas con trazo y arquitectura diferente, se encuentra ahí una iglesia colonial una verdadera joya.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7427/0000080cx4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/4811/0000081xe9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6461/0000082zx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)[/QUOTE]

The Glasgow tenement, generally 4 floors high, generally red/blonde stone, with 2-3 flats per floor accessed off a common stair or "close"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3489418899_4c7d9e81d4_z.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/3489416381_95d3edbb41_z.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3490230956_3ffef97a31_z.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3490229824_5c4d312db0_z.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/3489413307_4a2de5ac7c_z.jpg

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/1947/04za0.jpg
Picture from SSC member Bahnsteig4

Thats an example of nice looking and well maintained buildings which are from the "Gründerzeit", ie late 19th century/beginning of the 20th century. Vienna is full of them, even if a many are in a worse state and many have been robbed of their exterior beauty and feature plain wal nowadays.

This photo shows one of the historical outer suburbs btw., in the 18th district. The historical inner suburbs feature one or two floors more

Copenhagen's 3 most typical styles..

14-1600s
http://i33.tinypic.com/30rnud5.jpg

1700-1900s
http://i39.tinypic.com/dli1qp.jpg

1850s-1950s..
http://i41.tinypic.com/2gt3ngy.jpg

Pretty much a natural evolution starting from around 1400 where fire risk made old tudor a tad too risky ( as we learned trough a couple bad fires )

Queenslander architecture is a modern term for the vernacular type of architecture of Queensland, Australia. It is also found in the northern parts of the adjacent state of New South Wales and shares many traits with architecture in other states of Australia but is distinct and unique. The type developed in the 1840s and is still constructed today, displaying an evolution of local style. The term is primarily applied to residential construction, although some commercial and other types of construction are identified as Queenslander.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Queenslander3.JPG/800px-Queenslander3.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Queenslander1.JPG/800px-Queenslander1.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/aa/Queenslander2.JPG/800px-Queenslander2.JPG

The Queenslander, a "type" not a "style", is defined primarily by architectural characteristics of climate-consideration. They have been constructed in the popular styles of the time including, but not limited to colonial, Victorian, Federation, Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau, Interwar styles, and Post-WWII styles. The Queenslander is popularly thought of as an "old" house although Queenslanders are constructed today using modern styles as well as "reproductions" of previous styles.

:)

Helsinki

City centre: 19th century/Jugend buildings

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/7919/georgsgatan.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/georgsgatan.jpg/)

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4148/bulevarden.jpg (http://img299.imageshack.us/i/bulevarden.jpg/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/5339/freda.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/freda.jpg/)

Inner city areas: Jugend, 20s classicism, functionalist buildings

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8226/dsc0092edit2.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/i/dsc0092edit2.jpg/)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1332/20100425img2341.jpg (http://img510.imageshack.us/i/20100425img2341.jpg/)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7425/2739240906fed8ff9a9d.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/2739240906fed8ff9a9d.jpg/)

Suburbs: tower blocks, modern apartment buildings, detached and semi- detached houses, some old villa areas.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1475/kerrostalosamsung.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/kerrostalosamsung.jpg/)

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/1628/tammelakerrostalo130218.jpg (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/tammelakerrostalo130218.jpg/)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8769/mk18148s.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/i/mk18148s.jpg/)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6479/rivitaloslepaimensaari.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/i/rivitaloslepaimensaari.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/4162/kuvat015.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/kuvat015.jpg/)

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7360/p5080067sized.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/i/p5080067sized.jpg/)

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8803/369789330438ef6f8ca8.jpg (http://img191.imageshack.us/i/369789330438ef6f8ca8.jpg/)

Singapore's traditional typology, the Shophouse. Blend of styles from Western, Chinese, Indian, Malay architecture.

Shopfront on the ground level and residential upstairs. Feature of this architecture is the "five foot way" covered walkway at street level, very narrow frontage but deep plots and courtyards

Once treated as slums and many entire districts were torn down en masse in the 1970s, the remaining are mostly conserved by the authorities

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/mhc2.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/RCSSC/arabview3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9791/smileetb3.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2467807982_ba62251480_o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/ash.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/trassh.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/balestierob.jpg

In the 1930s, shophouse-apartments started to appear. A new typology. Shops on ground level, apartments upstairs.

http://img177.echo.cx/img177/9659/pict04031gh.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6360/12jb.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2219/t8ad.jpg

It's annoying, but many of us have to accept that in our cities, most people do not live in 'distinctive housing'. In many European cities, 'distinctive' housing is generally a folkloric city-center kind of thing, but far from having a big impact on the urban fabric of the city.

It's annoying, but many of us have to accept that in our cities, most people do not live in 'distinctive housing'. In many European cities, 'distinctive' housing is generally a folkloric city-center kind of thing, but far from having a big impact on the urban fabric of the city.

Perhaps, but these "distinctive" areas are what most people associate with their cities, not the suburbs and "planned areas" around them. I'd say its all down to density. In European cities it's these older "distinctive" areas that generate more city diversity and culture than the sprawl beyond.

I agree. Here is a typical street in Marseille's oldest district (le Panier). Although none of the houses are identical, as in a typical terraced housing street, they all share a certain style (generally 3 floors, stone masonry covered in painted plaster, two windows wide, red tiled roofs etc.).

The pic isn't perfect in this aspect but hopefully shows enough (pic from wikipedia).

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/piltupman/panier.jpg

This image alone shows the typical residential blocks in HK both mid-rise and high-rise.

By H.L. Tam
http://www.pbase.com/hltam/image/117422953/original.jpg

Stockholm's innercity mainly consists of these type of buildings:

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/9133/74719735.png

Vancouver has a lot of these and they call them "Vancouver Specials" basically houses that use as much of the lot as possible with rooms/suites to rent out sometimes or for large families

they try to vary the look of them but they are all ugly and usually identifiable to what era they were built i what finishes were trendy

3 different eras side by side
http://vreaa.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/03vancouver_specials_three_eras.jpg

http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/dre600/e654/e65413cpzkd.jpg

http://grandview-corridor-homes.com/listing/image/2576122630.jpg

http://www.realestatevancouver2010.com/search/photos/vancouver/vancouver-west/south-granville/V849436/258127573_1.jpg

http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/vanspecial1.thumbnail.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/3073094967_effe1da27c.jpg

http://www.vancouver-real-estate-direct.com/news/images/vancouver-special.jpg

http://agentwill.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cool-vancouver-special.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/122244020_89a23a0eba.jpg

recently they have been more appreciated and given makeovers and architects really like working with them
before and after
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/4592/beforeandafterp.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2605/3981846415_2987f40ee0_z.jpg?zz=1

Here in Baltimore, USA the main feature of the urban landscape is row houses. Some of the distinctive row house styles that we have developed here in Baltimore include:
The swell-front row house, as seen here in the Hampden neighborhood:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/139406553_022d56c76c.jpg?v=0
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2559495/2/istockphoto_2559495-row-houses.jpg
The most ubiquitous row house in the city, however, and the one that most represents Baltimore is the green-tiled overhang with porch. These can be seen in almost every neighborhood; these are in Coldstream:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/1509809991_13243c5bc7.jpg?v=0
Baltimoreans in many neighborhoods, particularly south and east of the CBD, have adopted the unique practice of building rooftop decks on top of their row houses:
http://csmedia.mris.com/platinum/getmedia?ID=90193244373&LOOT=50000881743
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/386098898_3a4cebb02f.jpg
Finally, we have adopted the practice of covering old brick row houses in fake stone called formstone. I haven't seen this anywhere except Baltimore:
http://www.monumentalcity.net/streets/paving/brickbouldin.jpg

http://www.caplans.com/Realestate/206Higland.jpg

Great pictures!

IMO, the overwhelming predominance of solid, brick rowhouse throughout Baltimore is what really makes the city seem more urban & larger than it really is.

Baltimore has certainly suffered its share of population loss. But its hard to tell given the dense fabric of rowhouses

Brick cities are built to last!

Many of us must accept that in our cities, most people do not live in homes distinctive. In many European cities, character housing is usually some sort of center folk thing, but far from having a major impact on urban structure city.In European cities, it is the old unusual areas that generate a greater diversity in urban and cultural dissemination outside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_CBk3HfKtA

Morro da Conceição is a residential area near the downtown of Rio de Janeiro that managed to keep it's "discinctive" look and at the same time avoid gentrification, althought i don't know for how long.

http://i.imagehost.org/0593/DSC04632_7.jpg

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/2770/morroconceio8.jpg

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/9986/morroconceio10.jpg

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1913/morroconceio17.jpg

http://oglobo.globo.com/fotos/2009/11/11/11_MHG_RIO_concei%C3%A7%C3%A3o.jpg

in la, there are a lot of little old apartment complexes from the 20s and 30s. they're usually long and skinny, but are never connected

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/349/46833985.jpg

many of them look like large single family houses from the front

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/6856/13416056.jpg

there are also a lot of spanish style homes

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5195/87063630.jpg

you also see a lot of "california bungalows" from around the same time period, but i'm too lazy to find pictures.

Berlin "Gründerzeit" buildings can be found in many districs.
These blocks were typically built from 1900 onwards ...

http://www.archivaria.de/as/tub22.jpg

Toronto varies, but I think our most known and recognized are our rowhouses:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2431831667_c6d336e82e_z.jpg?zz=1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25901943@N06/2431831667/)
Kensington Market 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25901943@N06/2431831667/) by salvi08 (http://www.flickr.com/people/25901943@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/3965221786_aed61695e0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76277389@N00/3965221786/)
Ashby Place, Toronto (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76277389@N00/3965221786/) by JL1967 (http://www.flickr.com/people/76277389@N00/), on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/3825142708_c57a3dc7a7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcwidi_2/3825142708/)
Hazelton Row Houses (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcwidi_2/3825142708/) by mcwidi_2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/mcwidi_2/), on Flickr


We have a few other distinct styles too.

These are in the 'Beach' neighbourhood and lie near Lake Ontario's shore.

http://www.findtorontohome.com/pictures/Toronto5.jpg


These are very common as well, especially in middle to upper class neighbourhoods:

http://juliekinnear.com/toronto-images/bedford-park-real-estate/400x400/bedford-parks-home-2.jpg

Our condos:

http://realosophy.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/30/torontocondos.jpg

I like this thread! Too much attention is paid to "iconical" architecture, but not enough to vernucalar architecture, which makes places distinctive.

Loved the thread!

MADRID

From the City Centre:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/95441022_7144ab8918.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/95442363_f567137e4d.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t194/cardiaz69/Urbanity/IMG_5913.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t194/cardiaz69/Urbanity/IMG_5954.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/7248/imgp0009p.jpg
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2599/dsc00912.jpg
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo324/yvaldbs/ImagenAAN430.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/alazca2/DSCN2523.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c41/madridgeneral6/IMGP0913.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c41/madridgeneral6/IMGP0993.jpg
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo324/yvaldbs/ImagenAAN430.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c41/madridgeneral6/IMGP0847.jpg

MADRID

Suburbs:

Flat

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/95452492_585a7e8e92.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/kikoazgon/CIMG0689.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/kikoazgon/CIMG2231.jpg


http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/La%20Fortuna/100_2808.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/La%20Fortuna/100_2811.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/Madrid/IMG_0313.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1464/imgp3669.jpg

http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t358/moyanapolit/mostoles/IMG_7549.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/100_1623.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/DSC01833.jpg

Houses

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/IMAG0137.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/IMG_0858.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/Fuenlabrada/100_2439.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/napolit/DSC000101.jpg








That's really characteristic of Outer Madrid...

And i've never seen this anywhere that's not Madrid

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/491716498_46e19f27e4_b.jpg

Thank you for showing Madrid! :)

You've showed the city centre "ensanches", but any of the photos was of Madrid historical centre (biggest in Spain and one of the biggest in the world).
Here some pics, if you want you can open them:
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/25549093.jpg

http://www.esacademic.com/pictures/eswiki/80/Plaza_de_la_Villa_(Madrid)_05.jpg

http://www.plusesmas.com/images/121_plaza_mayor_madrid.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/33243lg.jpg

http://www.fernandoorgambides.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/cava-baja-madrid2.jpg

Yeah, like the guys that showed emblematic districts in the central region, but not properly the historic town :)

Anyway, marvellous photos. Thanks :) The last one is magnificent!

many of them look like large single family houses from the front

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/6856/13416056.jpg

there are also a lot of spanish style homes

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5195/87063630.jpg



Many of these homes could just as easily fit in Miami. I would use them as an example of one of the most typical styles found in Miami (especially closer to the city center or older neighborhoods).

Yeah I'd say for LA the distinctive housing types are these:
Dingbat Apt.:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Dingbat_dingdong.jpg
Craftsman Bungalow:
http://www.tpguess.com/1840_Sheridan_Avenue_MLS_HID190047_ROOMStreetViewofProperty.jpg
Spanish revival Bungalow:
http://0.tqn.com/d/architecture/1/0/0/k/iStock_000000899468Small.jpg
Spanish revival four-plex:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_D6D8aDYmTkY/TVBOzuso2eI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/BB9EadaBICY/s1600/Front%2Bof%2BBldg.JPG
Mid-century Modern House:
http://curbednetwork.com/cache/gallery/3630/3371122296_8bf3671411_o.jpg
French Chateau-revival Apt:
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/lonepine52/LonePine2010part1279.jpg

Other cities indeed have these kinds of architecture, but each of these is a typology that when you look at them, you first think Los Angeles or Southern California. Each of these was definitely either invented or popularized in LA.

^^ With the exception of the French Chateau-revival the rest could just as easily be found through Miami.

^^ With the exception of the French Chateau-revival the rest could just as easily be found through Miami.

Right, as I said, these can be found in other cities, but they were developed in or were popularized in LA or Southern California.

Just like you can find a lot of streamline moderne buildings in LA, but when you see them you first think "miami beach."

For example, the craftsman bungalow style came out of Pasadena and was largely emblematic of Los Angeles in the early days. The mid-century modern house pictured has roots in the case-study program of LA in the 40s and 50s and was definitely emblematic of LA in the 50s. As was the dingbat apartment in the 50s and 60s. The spanish-revival style is generally regarded as being popularized by the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego in 1915, and was emblematic of LA and SoCal during the 20s and 30s. The French Chateau style was popular in the 30s and 40s and was greatly associated with hollywood in that era (chateau marmont).

If someone asked what SF's distinctive housing style is, you'd definitely say "victorian rowhouse." There are obviously other cities where these exist, but in SF they really are a "distinctive housing style." Same with the typlogies I listed for LA.

Also, I'd have to disagree that they can just as easily be found in Miami. These typologies dominate large swaths of LA, while being only confined to certain neighborhoods in Miami.

On the whole there is a different architecture that dominates Miami. It has red-tile roofs but is a few decades newer than the spanish-revival architecture I posted. It's much more similar to the 1950s tract housing that dominates much of southwest and southeast LA and the san fernando valley, but with red roofs. Also, I've noticed that houses in miami much more commonly have front-yard iron fences.

MIAMI

By far the most common type of homes throughout Miami are something like this

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5230888283_323d9cf5ed_b.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3712/3162535.jpg
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/4492/nnnk.png
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6563/dddqb.png


This is what you see a lot of in Miami Beach, Little Havana, Coral Way, Coral Gables, Shenandoah, Little Haiti and all the way up to North Miami and Miami Shores.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/25443713.jpg
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/2092/khnkn.png
http://coralgablesrealestatevault.com/files/2010/06/OldSpanish2.jpg
http://www.coralgablesdreamhome.com/images/homes/homesale0985/M1050985_101_12.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/286836100_700c419c49_z.jpg
http://lhphotos.nationalrelocation.com/MAORFL/M1482978/0?lm=20110314T214229

Distinctive?

http://extimages2.living.net/ImagesHomeProd6/FL/idx/photos/miamimls/80/D1383660.jpg
http://extimages2.living.net/ImagesHomeProd6/FL/idx/photos/miamimls/27/M1345209.jpg

Thanks, Hialeah. Those first few were exactly what I was thinking of in terms of distinctive Miami housing. The homes are wider and more squared off (more like ranch homes) than the spanish colonials you find in LA.

Miami and LA are definitely cousins, though, in terms of architectural style.

Where is the 4th picture from the bottom taken? That looks the most to me like parts of LA.

Where is the 4th picture from the bottom taken? That looks the most to me like parts of LA.

That is Little Havana. I've also always taken note of how similar Miami and LA can be.

Here's the last batch I'll add for Miami.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5558700653_d464da0cf4_b.jpg
Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcadimensia/5558700653/in/photostream/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5559279440_046a4e8ca5_b.jpg
Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcadimensia/5559279440/in/photostream/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5559296834_39f7fb16a4_b.jpg
Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcadimensia/5559296834/in/photostream/)

there's something really '50s about all those pastel colours and i kind of love it!

Very similar those from Miami and LA

Here in Oslo we have what we call "business palaces". These are distinctive city blocks usually consisting of huge glass areas and all built with a steel skeleton, which made all the glass possibly. They had 5 floors where bottom two where commercial, the two above was officies and the last floor was apartments. Usually built between 1895 and 1899, and each with their distinctive style. The idea was borrowed from the Us and in many ways these are our skyscrapers only in a european scale. Sadly a lot these buildings have been altering (some beyond recognition), a few have burned down and some have been demolished to make way for new and denser buildings.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm202/joopi_bucket/P1010044.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm202/joopi_bucket/P1010039.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm202/joopi_bucket/P1010057.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm202/joopi_bucket/P1010033.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm202/joopi_bucket/P1010013.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Oslo_Tostrupgården.jpg/1024px-Oslo_Tostrupgården.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Kongens_gate_31_Oslo.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Pilestredet_27.jpg
Etc...

^^they look gorgeous. very much remind me of Melbourne's old Coffee Palaces.

^^they look gorgeous. very much remind me of Melbourne's old Coffee Palaces.

^^ I'm not familiar with the Coffee Palaces but I found a article about them at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_Palace). Based on the pictures in that article it seems like Coffee Palaces have a more "massive" facade without all the glass as seen in some our buildings. It's no surprise that the buildings may share some styling clues though, as some of our buildings are pure rip off of other styles that was popular at the time. The second to last block have clearly been inspired by the Chicago school for example.

Sadly a lot of these buildings have been altered like I said. I posted a post in the Oslo tread Cityscapes and Skyline tread to highlight a few of these alterings. It may be of interest:

A link to the post:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=75093497&postcount=187

... And the whole tread:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=75093497#post75093497

Cool post!

A very distinctively "LA" housing style/arrangement is the bungalow court, invented in Pasadena in 1909 and built up until WWII in a variety of styles (It's my personal favorite housing style):

http://www.crala.org/internet-site/Projects/Hollywood/images/86534580.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2009.05.bc.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2195736563_c6ec99c9f9.jpg
http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/4007/4701185403_4878b1859f_o.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q2XWyc0vrPw/S7ISNPI2DEI/AAAAAAAADr8/IcF_NkdeK0s/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef01310ff6dde3970c-600wi.jpg

these exist in almost any style imaginable..