The Adirondack Shingle style represents one of the most compelling marriages in American residential architecture. Born from the blending of two distinct but compatible traditions the Shingle style and the Adirondack camp tradition this hybrid approach produces homes that feel both grand and welcoming, rustic and refined. On a rolling Pennsylvania hillside, a retirement home designed by Richard Buchanan and Peter Archer for the Scholl family demonstrates how this synthesis can create a residence that is deeply personal, beautifully crafted, and perfectly suited to its site.
This guide explores the defining characteristics of the Adirondack Shingle style, the architectural strategies that make it work, and the construction details that bring these homes to life. Whether you are planning a new custom residence or simply appreciate fine residential design, understanding this style offers valuable lessons in how Shingle style home design can be adapted and enriched through regional influences.
The Origins and Philosophy of Adirondack Shingle Architecture
The Shingle Style Tradition
The Shingle style emerged in late 19th-century New England as a distinctly American architectural language. Architects like H.H. Richardson and the firm McKim, Mead & White popularized its hallmark features:
- Continuous shingle cladding that flows uninterrupted over walls and rooflines, unifying the exterior
- Sweeping rooflines with asymmetrical gables and deep overhangs
- Generous porches that mediate between interior and exterior spaces
- Informal floor plans that prioritize livability over strict symmetry
- Natural materials including wood shingles, stone, and brick
The stately home design principles of the Shingle style emphasize craftsmanship over ornamentation. Rather than relying on applied decoration, the beauty of a Shingle style home emerges from the quality of its materials, the play of light and shadow across textured surfaces, and the thoughtful arrangement of volumes and masses.
The Adirondack Camp Influence
The Adirondack style, by contrast, grew from the great camps of upstate New York. Built as rustic retreats for wealthy families in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these structures embraced a rougher, more muscular aesthetic:
- Massive timber brackets and exposed structural elements
- Stonework using locally sourced fieldstone and boulders
- Deep porches with heavy posts and railings
- Irregular, organic forms that follow the natural topography
- Handcrafted details celebrating the work of skilled artisans
When combined, these two traditions produce a home that has the Shingle styles casual elegance and the Adirondack camps rugged permanence. The Scholl house demonstrates this beautifully: flared shingles meet massive stone arches, and sweeping roof planes are punctuated by oval windows and playful asymmetries.
Site Response and Massing: Working with the Land
Reading the Topography
One of the first challenges in any custom home project is fitting the house to its site. The Scholl property consists of equal parts woods and rolling meadow, with a south-facing slope that drops 9 feet in elevation over about 30 feet of distance. Rather than bulldozing the site to create a flat building pad, the architects worked with the existing grade.
They placed the longer, lower section of the house on the high side of the property. As the land rolls downward, a two-story gable rises on a bridge-like stone arch. This arch becomes the visual anchor of the homes street-facing elevation and one of the first elements visitors see when approaching.
Curves Against Straight Lines
A defining strategy of the Adirondack Shingle approach is the deliberate juxtaposition of curved and straight forms. Curves in the patio walls, a bow window, and oval windows at the gable tops set the house apart from more conventional designs. These curved elements are played against the homes predominantly straight lines, creating visual tension and interest.
Oval windows work particularly well near the rake because they have no horizontal or vertical trim that would compete with the roof line. A well-considered open flexible floor plan inside the home mirrors this exterior design philosophy, with spaces that flow naturally into one another rather than being rigidly partitioned.
Key Siting Principles
- Work with the natural grade rather than against it; let the topography inform the massing of the building
- Use prominent architectural elements such as stone arches or tower elements to anchor the structure to the site
- Orient the main living spaces to capture solar exposure and views while sheltering entry areas from prevailing winds
- Preserve existing trees and natural features to help the house settle into its landscape
- Design the approach sequence so that the house reveals itself gradually rather than all at once
Exterior Detailing and Materiality
Stonework and Masonry Elements
Stone is the backbone of Adirondack Shingle style. In the Scholl house, a massive stone arch supports the two-story gable, creating a dramatic bridge-like entry sequence. Stone pathway columns with integrated lighting guide visitors from the driveway to the front door, and stone patio walls extend the homes material palette into the landscape.
When selecting stone for this style, consider the following:
| Stone Element | Function | Recommended Material |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation walls | Structural support, moisture barrier | Fieldstone or rubble stone |
| Entry arches | Visual anchor, structural spanning | Cut stone or large boulders |
| Pathway columns | Wayfinding, lighting integration | Stacked flagstone with cap |
| Patio walls | Terrace definition, seating | Dry-laid fieldstone |
| Chimneys | Vertical mass, visual termination | Coursed rubble stone |
Shingle Application and Detailing
The shingles themselves are a canvas for craftsmanship. In the Adirondack Shingle tradition, shingles are applied with care and creativity:
- Flared shingles at gable ends and corners create a sense of visual weight and permanence
- Staggered exposure produces a rich textural surface that catches light differently throughout the day
- Undulating courses follow curved wall surfaces, requiring careful layout and installation
- Unpainted natural cedar weathers to a soft silver-gray that harmonizes with stone and landscape
- Wide corner boards provide a crisp visual stop for the shingle field
Roof Forms and Brackets
Roof forms in this style are anything but simple. Sweeping hips, intersecting gables, and deep overhangs create a complex silhouette that reads as both sheltering and sculptural. Heavy wooden brackets, borrowed from the Adirondack camp tradition, support the deep roof overhangs and add a muscular quality to the eaves.
A well-designed front porch in the Adirondack Shingle style extends the roofline outward, creating an outdoor room that bridges the interior and the landscape. These porches typically feature heavy square columns on stone bases, with beadboard ceilings and exposed rafter tails that reinforce the handcrafted character of the home.
Interior Planning and Key Architectural Strategies
The Curved Interior: Openings and Sightlines
Just as the exterior uses curves against straight lines, the interior of an Adirondack Shingle home carries this theme through arched openings that connect public and private zones. In the Scholl house, arched doorways and passageways frame views from one room to the next, creating a sense of discovery and flow.
These arches need not be structurally complex. Simple drywall radius arches, framed with wood casings that match the homes trim vocabulary, achieve the effect without requiring structural engineering. The key is to use arches consistently at transition points throughout the main living areas.
Floor Plan Organization
The floor plan of an Adirondack Shingle home prioritizes comfort and connection over formality. The Scholl residence organizes itself around these principles:
- Public zones kitchen, dining, and living areas flow together in an open arrangement
- Private wings are separated from public spaces for acoustic privacy
- Indoor-outdoor connections are prioritized, with multiple doors leading to patios and porches
- Wide hallways and generous door openings accommodate aging in place
- Sightlines are carefully managed so that one discovers the house gradually
Window Placement and Natural Light
Window placement in the Shingle tradition is imaginative rather than formulaic. The Scholl house uses:
- Bow windows that project outward, capturing light from multiple angles
- Oval windows in gable ends that punctuate large wall surfaces without competing with the roofline
- Clerestory windows that bring light deep into the plan
- Casement pairs with muntin patterns that echo the shingle textures
This thoughtful window placement eliminates the need for mechanical lighting during daylight hours and connects the interiors visually to the landscape throughout the changing seasons.
Conclusion
The Adirondack Shingle style succeeds because it draws from two rich architectural traditions while creating something entirely its own. The Shingle style contributes continuity, texture, and an informal elegance. The Adirondack camp tradition contributes permanence, craftsmanship, and a connection to the natural world. Together, they produce homes that feel as though they have always belonged to their sites homes with sweeping rooflines, warm stone, expressive shingle work, and interiors that welcome both quiet afternoons and lively gatherings.
For homeowners planning a custom residence, the lessons of this hybrid style are clear: work with your site rather than against it, invest in quality materials and skilled craftsmanship, and do not be afraid to blend traditions in ways that serve your familys way of living. The result may not be ordinary but that is precisely the point.