Housing Design Issues

Building Appearance

New developments that take their cues for building size, shape, height, materials, and colors from their
surrounding environment t in best with their neighborhoods. Slight changes in how materials are applied and
combined can help create variation in facades and avoid monotonous repetition.

Common Concerns

Design Solutions and Suggestions

Ugly buildings

Thoughtful architectural detailing, along with landscaping, can help give a

development curb appeal and increase its marketability.
Large buildings appear less imposing when their forms are broken up into
smaller units.

Building size, shape, and

height

A buildings size, shape, and height should relate to the surrounding

neighborhood. Local zoning regulations will act as guidelines for allowable
height and lot coverage.

Fit within the neighborhood

The neighborhood context often provides cues for form, materials, color,
and architectural style of new developments.

Creating a sense of entrance

Signage and architectural details used to create a visual as well as physical

gateway to the building help dene the entrance, and welcome and direct
visitors.

Architectural details

The alignment of windows, doors, and other architectural details, can help a
building look well composed, t in with the neighborhood, and provide visual
variety.

References
Forsyth, Ann, and Wendy Sarkissian. 1994. Housing for Older Australians: Site Planning Basics. Australian Planner. 31(3): 177-183.
Marcus, Clare Cooper, and Wendy Sarkissian. 1986. Housing as if People Mattered: Site Guidelines for Medium-Density Family Housing. Berkeley:
University of California Press.
Overland Park (Kansas) Planning and Services Department. 2002. Multifamily Residential Guidelines and Standards. Overland Park, KS: Planning and
Services Department.

Metropolitan Design Center | College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture | University of Minnesota
1 Rapson Hall, 89 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 www.designcenter.umn.edu

Prepared for the Minneapolis Corridor Housing Initiative

Revised June 2005

Local Design Solutions: Building Appearance

Breaking up the facade makes
it look like a collection of
individual buildings
Windows are aligned and are a
similar sizelooks composed
Pedestrian paths link
buildings; sidewalks lead to
private porches

Rowhouses (Golden Valley)

Well maintained landscape

Looks more like larger suburban

homes than traditional
rowhouses or multiplexes

Each unit has its own entrance,

and entrances are staggered

Humboldt Greenway Multiplex (Minneapolis)

Generous setbacks allow for larger

greenway / yards

A variety of architectural styles can be

mixed to make a lively streetscape

Trees add visual interest and will

provide shade as they mature

Portland Place Duplex (Minneapolis)

Full width front porch helps this

duplex look more like one unit

* Not all of the developments included are located on corridors; they were chosen as local examples that illustrate solutions and suggestions for the
design of building appearance.