Spanish Mission House Style

Picture Dictionary of House Styles in North America and Beyond

Historic mission churches built by Spanish colonists inspired the turn-of-the-century house style known as Mission, Spanish Mission, or California Mission.

Spanish Mission style houses have stucco walls, arches, and other details inspired by the Spanish mission churches of colonial America.

Spanish Mission style houses have many of these features:

• Smooth stucco siding
• Roof parapets
• Large square pillars
• Twisted columns
• Arcaded entry porch
• Round or quatrefoil window
• Red tile roof

About the Spanish Mission Style:Celebrating the architecture of Hispanic settlers, Spanish Mission (or, California Mission) style houses usually have arched dormers and roof parapets. Some resemble old Spanish mission churches with bell towers and elaborate arches.
The earliest Mission style homes were built in California, USA. The style spread eastward, but most Spanish Mission homes are located in the southwestern states. Deeply shaded porches and dark interiors make these homes particularly suited for warmer climates.
By the 1920s, architects were combining Mission styling with features from other movements.

Mission houses often have details from these popular styles:

• Prairie
• Craftsman
• Pueblo

When describing furniture, the terms Mission and Craftsman are used interchangeably.
Learn more about Mission architecture:

• California Mission Studies AssociationThis Web site is a good source for exploring the old Colonial missions that inspired Victorian mission style architecture.
• California Mission HistoryWeb site with history, maps, photos, and links for California's colonial era Mission architecture.

Mission Style House Plans and Photos:

• Spanish Mediterranean House Plan Collections
• Adobe House Plan Collections
• Adobe Picture Books