Start the top 10 list with a innovative Modern Dogtrot House Design. For a modern touch, this design takes less traditional materials such as frameless glass, metal and concrete, paired with more neutral hues and natural wood finishes to create a modern house that still personifies the charm of a Dogtrot House. This type of Modern Dogtrot House Design is perfect for anyone who loves to entertain family and friends, while still having enough space to stay comfortable. From ceiling to floor, inside and out, all aspects of this house can be customized to suit any lifestyle.Modern Dogtrot House Design
Modern Dogtrot House Design
With a Contemporary Dogtrot House Design, you get a combination of modern minimalism and classic architecture. This type of house allows for Materials such as wood and metal to stand out while the clean lines and contemporary features like frameless glass contribute to sleek interior design. From a spacious living room with an eye-catching fireplace, to an open kitchen equipped with modern kitchen appliances, a Contemporary Dogtrot House Design could be the perfect choice for those looking for a home that is both stylish and practical.Contemporary Dogtrot House Design
Contemporary Dogtrot House Design
A Classic Dogtrot House Design still holds true to the traditional aesthetic of Dogtrot Houses, but with modern touches. Typically featuring symmetrical elements like shuttered doors, columns and a front porch, this type of house is normally designed with painted brick or siding and a wooden front door. Inside, high ceilings, exposed beam structures, and wooden flooring add to the classic look of this type of Dogtrot House, while other modern features like updated kitchen appliances, open closet spaces, and natural stone can give the house more of a modern feel.Classic Dogtrot House Design
Classic Dogtrot House Design
For minimalists, a Simple Dogtrot House Design could be the perfect option. With this type of design, bold and uniform elements like white walls and structural beams stand out amongst the rest. Clean-cut angles are present throughout the interior and exterior of the house, and all furniture and appliances are streamlined to keep the overall look sleek and simple. Keeping the interior and exterior of the house simple with little to no clutter can help make this type of Simple Dogtrot House Design the perfect space for relaxation.Simple Dogtrot House Design
Simple Dogtrot House Design
Continue the list with a Traditional Dogtrot House Design, which is perfect for any homeowner wanting to capture the timeless charm of the past. From the outside in, traditional elements such as large front porches, exposed beam structures, and brick exteriors can be seen on this type of house. Inside, a blend of traditional and rustic designs can be found in furniture and fixtures, but can also be softened with luxurious touches like a gazebo-style lighting fixture and classic, vibrant wall art pieces. Traditional Dogtrot House Design
Traditional Dogtrot House Design
For a more unique aesthetic, there’s the Historic Dogtrot House Design. This type of house offers a combination of vintage, traditional, and modern elements in a very unique way. It’s characterized by its large windows that let in lots of natural light and wood paneling that adds an antique look to the exterior and interior of the house. Inside, intricate details like brass fixtures, ornate fireplaces, and crown molding all contribute to the historic charm of this Dogtrot House.Historic Dogtrot House Design
Historic Dogtrot House Design
Moving on, a Luxury Dogtrot House Design is ideal for homeowners who love luxurious and quality materials. Expansive windows that bring in a lot of natural light, detailed wood work, and classical materials, such as marble and granite are all common features on this type of house. Within the interior, modern amenities like an impressive wine cellar, a home theater, and a home gym can be found, as well as other amenities like a spa, library and outdoor kitchen.Luxury Dogtrot House Design
Luxury Dogtrot House Design
On the list is a Country Dogtrot House Design, which takes on a light and airy aesthetic with its natural wood interiors and exposed beam structures. This type of house usually has a large front porch, perfect for casual country gatherings, and dormer-style windows that let in natural light during the day. Inside this type of house, the traditional hand-painted floral wallpaper and whitewashed furniture will certainly add to the classic and homey feel.Country Dogtrot House Design
Country Dogtrot House Design
For a house with a classic farmhouse theme, there’s the Farmhouse Dogtrot House Design. This type of house is distinguished by its coursed masonry construction, large dormer-style windows, and the often brightly colored front door. On the inside, this type of house can feature wood floors, exposed beams, classic furniture pieces, and light fixtures that maintain the rustic country feel. With a Farmhouse Dogtrot House Design, homeowners can create the perfect classic farmhouse.Farmhouse Dogtrot House Design
Farmhouse Dogtrot House Design
The final house on the list is one that pays homage to the rustic farmhouse aesthetic — the Rustic Dogtrot House Design. This type of house features a more rugged look, often featuring rougher materials such as natural stone, reclaimed wood, and metal accents. Inside, an open and airy space is usually seen, with wide-open spaces that make the house feel more spacious. And with walls of windows, this house is perfect for letting more natural light in.Rustic Dogtrot House Design
Rustic Dogtrot House Design
Understanding the Dogtrot House Design
The dogtrot house is an iconic form of vernacular architecture which has endured through centuries. This highly-functional and well-loved style of house design is recognizable for its two-room simplicity, natural materials, and an open-air
dogtrot
passageway. Originating in the south of the United States, this style of house was originally developed by 19th-century slaveholders needing efficiently-made dwellings which would provide shelter but require minimal expenditure.
Although popular in the south, the dogtrot house has also had a revival in modern house design. Taking elements from the original
vernacular
house and reimagining them in contemporary style, it has become popular for contemporary sustainable design. With its wide-open porch and dogtrot, the house provides an inherently
energy-efficient
design, reducing reliance on unsustainable energy sources.
Components of a Dogtrot House
The classic design for a dogtrot house, also known as a "saddlebag house," features two or more fully-enclosed substructures located around an open-air
central passageway
. One substructure typically holds the ‘dog run’, which is the main living area, and the other stores service areas, such as the kitchen, sleeping areas, and bathrooms. This central passageway, or
dogtrot
, is purposefully designed to produce a cool air flow that counters hot air rising from the main living area. Composed of traditional wooden frames, the dogtrot house also incorporates airy porch spaces that allow the building to mesh with its natural environment.
How the Dogtrot House Saves Energy
The dogtrot house is one of the most efficient types of house designs in our modern world, consuming minimal energy throughout the year. While utilizing natural breeze and thermal mass for
passive solar
heating, the house also intelligently utilizes primary construction materials to ensure sufficient insulation. As a result, the dogtrot house provides a superb thermal performance and creates a naturally-ventilated interior that can also be used to grow a variety of
plants
.
Repurposing the Traditional Dogtrot House Today
In modern house design, the resilience and simplicity of the traditional dogtrot house makes it ideal for areas of limited natural resources. Reimagined with improved materials or refreshed with a more modern aesthetic, the traditional dogtrot house has found a place in both remote rural areas as well as hip urban communities. In this way, the original vernacular house design, once a staple of slaveholders, continues to provide a shelter and breathing space for modern inhabitants in all walks of life.
