Architectural Styles: Identifying American Homes

This course includes:

  • Anytime access to the recording of our live presentation plus supporting materials for 60 days - learn or reference the material when it's convenient for you.
  • Access to office hours: live Zoom meetings in which you can ask questions about the recording or supporting materials. (Details below.)


You can explore an outline of the course curriculum below!


This course includes:

  • Anytime access to the recording of our live presentation plus supporting materials for 60 days - learn or reference the material when it's convenient for you.
  • Access to office hours: live Zoom meetings in which you can ask questions about the recording or supporting materials of the instructor.

Cost: Your investment gives you access to valuable live education, opportunities to rehearse/reference the material in this learning management system and on-going access to the instructor.

This survey course on architectural styles is a fascinating exploration of American house styles – the evolution of which is much more detailed that you might guess. 

Moving chronologically through the styles helps us see how they’re related plus the impacts of culture, education and technology on house styles.

We’re planning to cover the following:

  • How real estate agents describe house style: MLS input fields
  • Vocabulary of house styles – how to talk about houses
  • (Re)discovery of classical design
  • The influence of classical design in American buildings
  • How styles were spread through the United States
  • Colonial, Romantic, Victorian and Period homes
  • Impact of the Industrial Revolution on housing
  • Early Modern home styles
  • Impact of prefabricated homes
  • Impact of the International Style
  • Mid-Century home styles
  • Modern home styles, including shipping containers and tiny houses


Professionals such as real estate agents tend to refer to houses as “traditional”, “contemporary” or “modern”. While it’s true some houses are hard to characterize as one particular style, it’s helpful to have the language to paint a picture with words when describing a house. That creates interest and invites discussion. In some cases, it can even create an opportunity for storytelling.

This review will help you identify and discuss common home styles. Identification and discussion allows us to focus interest on certain elements of a property and put the house into a larger context. This is an important transformation, especially for real estate professionals, because both of these activities raise the perception of value for a property.

Your enrollment period (your access to the recording) is 60 days from the date of the live presentation.

The Styles and Elements courses are sister courses - we created them to be complimentary though you don't have to take one to take the other. 

Access to the Presentation + Recording

Each person who views the presentation and has access to the recording must purchase (or have purchased for them) their own access to this course. Learners are not permitted to share access to courses.

What Happens After the Live Presentation?

We'll publish a recording of the live presentation in this learning management system. We'll notify you by email when the recording is available.

You may view the recording any time you choose and as many times as you wish within your enrollment period.

Your enrollment period (your access to the recording) is 60 days from the date of the live presentation. It typically takes three business days for the recording to be published.

Your Questions + Guidance

Please share your questions and guidance at any time through our Support page.

You Need An Account

You need an account to view a course. Setting up an account is free and easy to do - just click the "Enroll Now" button below.

If you're not currently signed in yet have an account, click the "Enroll Now" button and enter the email address you used for your account. The LMS will recognize your email address, prompt you for a password. Enter your password, click "Continue". The LMS will add the course to your account and open your dashboard to display all of your available courses.

If you're signed into the LMS, clicking the "Enroll Now" button will launch the course.

Give This Course as a Gift

You can give this course to a person using the gifting feature at checkout: Click the "Enroll Now" button and then check the box to the left of the text "This is a gift". 

You'll be prompted to provide the recipient's email and name plus a personalized message. The recipient will receive an introductory message with your personalized note. You'll receive an email with a link to the gift.

Our courses are a transformative gift of education: we teach people how to enjoy more healthy, comfortable and efficient homes and communities. Our courses are appropriate for all ages and backgrounds: homeowners, students, professionals, etc.

Terms of Service

Your participation in this course and all other RTA events is subject to RTA's Terms of Service.

Course Instructor

Advocate + Collaborator Ryan Taylor

Ryan Taylor is a registered architect. He’s also earned certifications in energy rating/performance verification, site design, disaster response, distance learning, etc. Ryan is active in community, legislative and building code issues. He’s been speaking/teaching since 2008 and is frequently invited to speak at community and industry events. His comments have been widely published.