Split Level
The Split Level style house is also easy to identify by its multi-leveled front façade. The basement level includes the attached garage with the kitchen, living room and dining room usually on the second level. The third level is for bedrooms and bathrooms. This arrangement of space was a thoughtful effort to provide both quiet and noisy living spaces for families. Each home had three types of living space: a quiet living area, a noisy living area and a private sleeping area. Split level style homes became popular in the 1950s and 60s. The exterior form of the split level house can vary widely—many different building material, roof shapes and decorative details were used. Some appear more modern with diagonal lines, shed roofs, vertical siding and ribbon windows. More frequently, split level houses used the same decorative details as Ranch and Raised Ranch style homes.
Some architectural historians consider the Raised Ranch (also called a Split Entry) as a style just what the name implies; a Ranch style house perched atop a basement or first floor level housing a garage and finished room. By adding another story beneath the main floor of the home, the Raised Ranch style provided additional living space, often a family room or additional bedroom. The basement of first floor level is usually of brick and the upper story is often of wood or aluminum siding. Like Ranch style houses, the Raised Ranch house often has traditional decorative details like non-functional shutters. However, since the floorplan for Raised Ranch style houses is very similar to that of Split Level style homes with the kitchen, living and dining rooms set apart from the bedrooms or family room and garage by a short flight of steps, we have included it under the Split Level category.
Identifiable Features
- Multi-level house with a low-pitched roof
- Asymmetrical facade
- Large picture window
- Integrated garage
Photos
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Example of a Split-Level house, Allegheny County
Example of a Split-Level house, Allegheny County
Example of a Split-Level house, Allegheny County
Example of a Split-Level house, Montgomery County
Example of a Split-Level house, Montgomery County
Example of a Split-Level house, York County
Example of a Split-Level house, York County
Example of a Split Entry house, Dauphin County
Example of a Split Entry house, Lancaster County