Last year I travelled Europe with 4 of me boys.
This is what we stole.

5 Elements of European Architecture

As we travelled through Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Croatia, I kept an open eye for architectural elements you can bring into your backyard.

Some may add flare to your shed, while others may give your landscaping a more natural feel.

If all applied, you might just be able to save on that plane ticket with Europe now out your back door.

1. Planning based on natural topography

While giving directions in grid-based cities is certainly easier, we all know they weren’t designed for the pedestrian. 

Cities built prior to advances in transportation expanded organically, resulting in a seemingly random street layout.

However, I have a theory that the layout of such cities are actually predictive in nature. I think they’re based on existing topography. 

The logic being that using the land’s natural curves and changes in elevation as suggestions for where to build results in the least amount of alteration to the land. Therefore construction is simplest.

I’m not sure why, but this makes for a more enjoyable walking experience. Maybe it’s cause we prefer to “meander” instead of walking in robotic straight lines?

Regardless, how can you work with the natural topography of your property? If it’s simply flat, how might you use building body language to suggest a path?  

2. Alleys, streets, and plazas

This concept clicked for me in Madrid.

When a pedestrian can seamlessly move between spaces of varying width, it allows for a diverse set of experiences while walking from A to B.

Alleys act as a shortcut between streets and feel intimate. Your sense of scale becomes smaller, giving room to appreciate the unique entrances, art, and infrastructure that populate it’s sides.

Streets are full of movement and activity. Emerging from an alley you’re once again immersed in everything and everyone around you. Your sense of scale broadens as you observe more at a time with slightly less detail, scanning storefronts to see if there’s a cave you want to enter as you dodge other commuters.

Streets eventually lead to plazas. Like emerging from a dense forest into an open plane, the newfound openness hits you like a breath of fresh air.  Here you often see groups gathering, pop-up shops, and monumental architecture populating it’s sides.

Continually transitioning between alleys, streets and plazas creates an ongoing cycle of constriction and release; turning inward and looking outward; slowing down and speeding up.

Use this on your property by constructing a diverse set of spaces to interact with. Ensure some are small and intimate, while others are large and open.

When combined with using natural topography as a guide, it’s the best way a planner can mimic the natural environment.

3. Non-flat facades

There’s a strong contrast between the flat glass facades in modern North America and the layered stone facades in Europe’s older cities. 

This change in facade design had a positive affect on my mood. I attribute this feeling to biomimicry. 

The closest thing in nature to the imposing presence of a large building would be a cliff. A cliff’s facade is naturally complex with unique geometry.

When we design the facades of buildings to also be complex, they feel less foreign & imposing because they’re closer to what we evolved alongside. 

At home, you can incorporate this by adding things such as awnings, shutters, planter boxes, lights, exterior cabinets, hooks, and art to the facades of the places you create. 

Such additions result in friendlier buildings that feel lived in, are more visually interesting, and have increased functionality when interacting with them from outside.

4. Embrace physics problems

We’ve gotten really good at building boxes. 

Not only has this resulted in cheaper and faster construction, but at times we can actually make them look pretty cool too. 

Yet when I stepped into the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, I was reminded why I learned physics as part of my education as an Architectural Engineer.

Sure, you can have the roof loads transfer to the walls of your box and then into the ground, but sometimes that’s too easy.

What if you limited yourself to just a single load bearing wall? Or a single column in the middle of the floor plan so that the roof is supported like an umbrella? What happens to the building form then? 

But why would you do that?

…

…Why not? 

We should create more interesting architecture for the sake of creating more interesting architecture. 

If gravity weren’t a thing, what might you add to your property?

5. Tell Stories

Again, pulling from the Sagrada Familia here.

The building itself tells the story of Jesus through its 3 facades. 

How cool is that. Gaudi created a sculpture (that tells a story) that you can walk through and spend time in. 

Architecture can be simple and utilitarian: a shed, a closet, a pump house. But let’s not forget that it’s also a form of art. Gaudi described it as “the arrangement of light”. 

Being more deliberate with things like facade design, orientation towards the sun, and material selection, gives us the opportunity to give architecture more meaning.

We can create buildings that tell the story of their creation, represent shared aspirations for our future, and highlight collective values though their design.

Because again,

Why not?

The Treetops

Architecture worth sharing

Had to pull from Europe for this one.

I love the skylight at the roof peak. The contrast between old and new in converted industrial homes get me every time.

Reply with your favourite architecture and I'll feature it in an upcoming issue.

Forward this to a friend or family member who will find it valuable!

Reply with the cool projects you’re working on and I just might feature them.

Catch you next Thursday 🫡

Charlie Frise
Backyard Architect

Forwarded this? Sign up here.