Houses Whose Ages Are Not Obvious

I know I’ve said it before, but I am a fan of all architectural styles. But out here in the Hamptons I am particularly sensitive to a house’s context, and if it’s part of a streetscape, I think a house being of a completely unique or uncommon style is, not impossible, but a tough design challenge.

So I love when I drive by a contextual house – meaning a house that fits in stylistically with its neighborhood well – and I especially love when I cannot easily determine the house’s age. Usually, it’s easy to guess the age of a house based on its style, size, height or details. But I am really tickled when I can’t tell. It’s an architecture geek’s challenge so to speak. After all, I received my master's in architecture, not architectural history! While I naturally had to study architectural history, that wasn’t my major, and so I love to continue learning about the various nuances that separate, and sometimes overlap, among the various architectural styles and eras day to day.

Anyway, there are five houses' photographs attached to this post whose age I don’t know. How about you?

The first is in North Sea. It appears to be a two-story farmhouse with two over two windows, a gable end pointed window, and traditional shutters and hardware. It has a main north-south gabled volume with an east-west gabled wing, very similar to many surviving farmhouses on the East End dating to the 1800s. Is it old?

The second is in Southampton, just outside village boundaries. It is a two-story Colonial similar to many dating back to even the 1700s. It has shutters with traditional hardware and pilasters at the house's corners. Even the second-story windows on the front elevation imply that they are at floor level like many of the truly older homes. But is it old?

Next we have a home in Bridgehampton with lots of traditional detailing such as traditional shutters and hardware, divided light windows, a second story whose shingle siding sweeps out slightly over the first story, a rambling feel and an overall balance of composition. But again, is it old?

Next is a house near the ocean in Southampton Village called “Fox Hall.” Its low height implies a by-gone era, the fact that it has operable window shutters that close during the colder, uninhabited months implies an older age, and its Greek revival detailing was common in this area in the 1840s. Is it old?

And finally I have included a more vernacular structure in Water Mill that appears to be the conversion of a barn into a house. It has a stone foundation and a sliding barn door, minimal fenestration, divided light patterned windows, steep roof pitches and shallow eaves. Is it old?

Remember, I did not do any real research on these properties but here are my guesses: yes, no, no, no, no, with ‘no’ meaning not older than 1930. Why only the first and not the others? 

Because of the second house’s chimney, cupola, the 6-over-6 divided light windows, and the way the north side windows jump up to the contemporary second floor placement. Plus I remember it being built not too long ago.

Because of the third house’s overall size and large clusters of windows.

Because of the fourth house’s exaggerated dentils and transom windows.

And just because of an inkling for the fifth.

I could absolutely be wrong, even about the first house. I'd have to refer to the historic maps and get information from the Suffolk County clerk's office and various building departments to know for sure. But it’s fun to be kept guessing, isn’t it? In my book, it means their designers have done a great job.