Regional Forms ~ Not surprisingly, architecture is often adapted to the climate of the region where it is located. Certain adaptions become common enough to become characteristic of the region. In the American Deep South, the “undercut form” is such an adaption.
These houses have porches “cut out” of the main body of the house, i.e. covered by the primary roof. In other regions, porches more often are added onto the exterior with their own separate roof. The form appears in houses of virtually all styles from Federal (c. 1800) through the late Victorian styles (c. 1900). This beautiful example with wonderful “gingerbread” trim on the porch is located in St. Francisville, Louisiana.
These undercut porches create outdoor living spaces that occupy a quarter to a third of the area covered by the roof. This much covered outdoor space is generally not found in Northern houses of the same period. Examples can be found in the North, but they are rare,
Twenty-five architectural styles and forms are described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Want to learn more about historic houses? Save on The Restorer’s Library Essentials combo pack includes “Restoring Your Historic House,” Michael Litchfield’s “Renovation: 5th Edition,” and Virginia McAlester’s “Field Guide to American Houses” in our shop. Combo packs are discounted from the individual book prices, and you save on shipping too!
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© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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