Europe is a territory that houses multiple architectural styles, which for its beauty, elegance and even security has expanded around the world. In different parts around the globe you can see the ideas and styles of this continent embellishing and highlighting the different cities. Costa Rica has been greatly influenced by these styles, that’s why you could find them in various structures around the country.
Because it is a large continent there are many different visions, which emerged from the colonies that conquered each country. Here’s everything you need to know.
Types of European architecture:
Swiss/ Alpine
- They are rectangular shaped houses
- Their roofs are gabled, not very steep due to the amount of snow that falls.
- The bases are made of stone
- They are lined with wood
- In the most modern designs the vertical beams stand out and give a certain luxury.
- They are found in all the countries of the Alps: northern Italy, Austria and Switzerland.
North Germany
- It is an area with a lot of rain, storms and wind.
- Mud bricks are used
- Windows are small to keep out the cold and are thatched with straw to keep out the rain.
- Roofs are hipped, which is known as multi-pitched.
- The most modern houses are L-shaped
- In these they do not use straw but brick.
South Germany
- They are mostly old houses, around 200 years old, which have been renovated.
- The roofs are much steeper than in Switzerland.
- In central and southern Germany, half-timbered walls are used.
- The walls are decorated with side and horizontal bars.
Modern house
- A lot of glass is used and the back is made of metal
- Brick is replaced by fenestration for modernity
Dutch
- They are wooden houses because of their affluence with the sailors.
- Inside they are sloping and narrow
- The style of a ship is transferred to the houses.
- They are very close to the water, there is almost always a canal that passes by the house.
- In modern houses there is also contact with water.
- They are made of concrete and some have wood details.
- They have a lot of natural light
Scandinavian
- Houses with lots of windows for winter lighting
- The country houses maintain a lot of contact with nature.
- They work with wood and natural stone
English
- They are houses with double gables, which are the triangles on the facades.
- They can be one on top of the other or separated on the facades.
- When the gables are separated, large, square windows are used, divided between them. Normally this model is used in taller and wider houses.
- Windows are small when the gables are one above the other.
- In middle class or working class houses, they look like two houses side by side.
- The facades are forward, they can be circular or square.
French
- This European architecture contains stone in its infrastructures and dark colors such as gray.
- Are known for being “sadder” constructions.
- They feature large doors and large windows that open to the ground and allow access to the garden.
- Use guard-style windows
- In the most modern houses they use a manzard roof of four straws, straight and at the end it is broken.
- This is done to gain an extra floor that is on the slope, but it is not a complete floor.
- There are other styles with exaggerated manzardas, is larger than the normal roof and is covered with chalk.
Basque
- The facades are very wide and asymmetrical.
- Slightly sloping roofs, with a wider slope on one side
- They use trusses
Manchego
- It is widely used in Costa Rica and Latin America
- Is a colonial style that represents relaxation, vacations, sunshine
- It has large porches
- Modern style uses red brick and tile with wood or cement columns.
Toscano
- They are properties that are created with the objective of receiving light at dusk.
- Pines and tall trees are widely used
- It is a medieval style
- Natural stone is used, not brick
- The roofs are gabled
- In more modern houses the windows are small
- Walls are plastered
Maltese
- Typical of the Italian culture
- It is based on many cubes, squares and rectangles that fit one inside the other.
- It does not contain ceilings
- Uses natural stone with colors such as ochre, sand and yellow.
- Maintains very little exterior decoration
- Has large windows in modern houses
Greek
- The house/infrastructure always maintains a white plaster.
- This European architecture has few windows
- Blue is used as an accessory color, mainly in the window frames.
- Decoration is with natural products such as flowers and vines.
- In more modern styles, louvered windows are used.
Balkan/Turkish
- They are rectangular houses
- They have many walls that are white plastered
- The windows are geometric, rectangular and tall.
- A lot of wood is used in the decoration
- Decorative elements are used in the corners
- The ceilings have a very pronounced horizontal line
Build your European home with a specialized company
Hispanoalemana Premium Homesyle S.A is a real estate promoter, urban developer and civil construction company with German and Spanish capital, specializing in European styles.
It is part of the business conglomerate VEITH Group, which was created more than 10 years ago by the businessmen: Dr. Daniel Veith, a German national and his wife, Dr. Evelyn Veith, a Costa Rican economist.
Some of the services offered are: architecture, design, interior design, civil engineering, urban planning, landscaping, inspection and project management.
One of your brands is European Style Homes, which maintains several infrastructure construction projects with European styles in the country.
Bauhaus – Symphonie is a project of three houses located in La Guácima de Alajuela. There are three different models of houses whose names are
The different properties in Costa Rica, as well as the great variability of topography, tastes, budgets and even materials make it a good place to venture into the world of European architecture. There are even construction companies with extensive experience in this architectural style that can visualize your ideas and translate them into reality.
Do not limit yourself to build buildings with simple or easy designs, because of the fear that the final product is not as expected, European architecture offers a wide range of options for every family and every need as long as you invest in experts.
