![\"toronto](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/JPbombales_156Winchester20141129-2505.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nClose to the core, Toronto houses may seem to all be cut from the same cloth: narrow houses with pointy roofs and bay windows. But look a little closer and you’ll see a variety of architectural styles that use stonework, dormer windows or wooden edging as defining features.<\/p>\n
Never stumble to describe a neighbourhood or house again. Take a look through the first part of our series on Toronto residential architecture to get a sense of the styles that dominated 19th century. All photos by James Bombales.<\/p>\n
Second Empire<\/h2>\n
History:<\/strong> The architectural style began in France and was named for the Second Empire of Napoleon III, who ruled the country between 1852 to 1870. The style crossed over to Canada in the mid-19th Century and was used for many government buildings built in the 1870s and 1880s.<\/p>\n Habitat:<\/strong> A smattering of these homes can be found on Draper Street, in the Garden District, Cabbagetown, Parkdale, Harbord Village and on Dundas Street West, across from the Art Gallery of Ontario.<\/p>\n Defining features:<\/strong> The houses feature square-based domes, mansard or four-sided roofs and dormer windows.<\/p>\n History:<\/strong> Believed to be unique to Toronto, this ubiquitous downtown housing style was popular between 1875 and 1890 and very common among the city\u2019s middle class residents.<\/p>\n Habitat:<\/strong> Almost every neighbourhood with semi-detached homes dating back to the late nineteenth century will have houses in this style. This includes The Annex, Kensington Market, Little Italy, Brockton Village, Cabbagetown, Trinity Bellwoods, Riverdale etc.<\/p>\n Defining features:<\/strong> The style is most often seen on brick semis or row houses, standing two and a half storeys tall on narrow lots. Typically, the home will feature a gable roof (a triangular, and dual-pitched roof) and a large bay window. Some of the homes feature ornamental motifs and designs or stained glass.<\/p>\n History:<\/strong> Popular in North America in the second part of the 19th century, the style was adopted for many churches and institutions such as Queen\u2019s Park, University of Toronto\u2019s University College or Old City Hall. It was frequently used for houses in the 1880s.<\/p>\n Habitat:<\/strong> The Annex, Cabbagetown, Parkdale and The Garden District.<\/p>\n Defining features:<\/strong> Meant to symbolize permanence, the structures look heavy and ponderous. They frequently feature stonework, round arches, and intricate stone carving.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nBay-and-Gable<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nRomanesque<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nGothic Revival<\/h2>\n