Cape-Style Homes: New England's Cozy, Shingled Cottage Look
GMT Home Designs, Inc.
A New England architecture firm, practicing user-centered design for residential and light commercial projects.
by Glenn M. Travis, Principal, GMT Home Design
Ah, the Cape. Today most New Englanders might think of Cape Cod, Mass., as sunny summer beaches and ponds (with, yes, awful bridge traffic on Fridays and Sundays).
For the 230,000 people who live on the Cape year-round, there's a stronger connection with the other seasons' unpredictable weather — which, it turns out, were a big factor in the development of the Cape Cod architectural home style.?
Charming, cozy, functional, and simple, with distinct shingles or clapboard siding: The Cape Cod style of architecture emerged in the late 17th century. Like?the Colonial style, the design of these Cape houses was heavily influenced by the English cottages of the time, brought over by early settlers. These homes were created to withstand the harsh New England winters and capture the essence of a comfortable and humble abode.?
That's right: Ironically, the NE 'summer home' is actually built with winter in mind.
One of the defining features of a Cape Cod style house is its symmetrical and compact design. The houses are typically one-and-a-half stories tall, with a steep, sloping roof. The roof often features dormer windows, which not only add visual appeal but also provide additional headroom and natural light to the upper floor. The roofline itself is often gabled, with gently sloping sides that meet at a central peak. This classic roof shape helps to shed snow and rain, a practical necessity in a Nor'easter. It also gave the Cape house a low profile, compared to a full two-story home, so it could be further protected from windy storms by its surroundings.