Design for a House, Side Elevation 1878 - 1888

This is W. Strong’s “Design for a House, Side Elevation,” made in January 1883. Architectural drawings are artifacts of aspiration, testaments to the way we want to live. Here, the single-family home represents a specific kind of striving deeply embedded in the American psyche. This design emerges from a period marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization, which created new wealth and new possibilities for upward mobility. The house, with its Queen Anne style tower, speaks to a desire for individuality and status. These architectural choices are rooted in the complex interplay between personal identity and cultural values. Consider the emotional resonance of a home: a safe haven, a symbol of belonging, and a canvas upon which we project our dreams. Architectural renderings were not merely technical documents; they were powerful tools in shaping social norms and cultural aspirations, which promoted very specific ideals of domesticity and family life.