- Conch House
A conch house is a style of architecture generally found in
tropical climates , especially in theBahamas andFlorida Keys . These homes are "typified by a rectangular floor plan and mass with a full-façade porch, raised foundation and tall sash windows with louvers." [City of Clearwater, Florida, Downtown Plan, Appendix 5, Definitions] With stylistic roots from the Bahamas,New England andAfrica , conch homes blend wood,Gulf Coast ,Caribbean and New England elements.Characteristics
Conch homes are built to be energy-efficient and fare well in warm, tropical climates. All the defining characteristics play a role in keeping the home cool, well-ventilated and weather-proof.
*Metal
roofs : used to deflect thesun . Roofs are also pitched.*
Pillars or piers: homes sit atop pillars, which allows for air circulation and cooling while keeping the foundation free from rot.*Roof hatches: incorporated to increase ventilation (a concept borrowed from ship design).
*Louvered
window shutters : shield the interior from daytime heat. The slats permit breezes to circulate.Hurricane shutters also provide protection from strong winds.*
Porch es andverandah s: offer shaded areas and an overall cooling element.*Room structure:
cube -like design to withstandhurricanes .*Exterior walls: lack the usual horizontal blocks between studs in the wall to allow air to circulate from the crawl space to the attic.
*
Dormers : allow forattic space to be transformed intobedrooms or additional living space.History
Early settlers in the Bahamas and Florida Keys produced a lime, which was a product in the mortar mixture including water and
sand , by burningconch shell s. Conch shells were also used in place of bricks and stones in the home building process. [ [http://www.floridakeysbest.com/key_west_conch_style/nfch.htm Conch House Architecture] ]Later, when wood was more readily available, these homes were also referred to as conch homes and they used a combination of architectural styles. Borrowing from classical New England architecture, many conch homes can be found to exhibit the Victorian style.
References
External links
* [http://www.lakeworth.org/vertical/Sites/%7B5E6FE119-0228-4C9B-B2DB-067168049C16%7D/uploads/%7B5DB44609-90A1-4F6B-9B58-E2C23778CF84%7D.PDF Florida Architectural Styles]
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