Architecture is, at its essence, the making of shelter and, therefore, essential to society. Both Architecture with a capital “A” and architecture with a lower case “a,” encompassing most of the buildings we inhabit daily, are equally important.
Let’s take the Cape Cod-style house as an example. As its name suggests, this type structure originated on Cape Cod, Mass. First built by settlers in the 1600s, its form was dictated by function and location. The most recognizable feature of the Cape Cod is a steeply pitched gable roof, under which nestles the second floor. Dormers provide for windows on the sloping sides of the roof.
Such a steeply pitched roof was easily able to shed rain and snow, thus protecting the occupants of the home from the harsh weather of the Cape. These houses were not designed by professional architects but nonetheless were so successful as a design, they remain with us today. Look around Staten Island and you will find many examples of the Cape Cod, a style of architecture that has become a part of the fabric of our lives.