Volume XXI March, I9I2 .N u m_ be r ;‘3 
The Spanish Mission Style of House . ; 
THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED FROM THE OLD SPANISH MISSIONS - • 
—FOREIGN INFLUENCES AND EASTERN IDEAS THAT GO IN TOWARD MAKING THE NEW TYPE 
BY George C. Baum 
[The problem of choosing an architectural style for the American country or suburban home is one of the most puzzling that confront the 
home-builder. In order to bring about a better understanding of the more common types and with the idea of clarifying, as far as possible, this whole 
matter, we have asked a number of prominent architects to present each the case for one particular style. In previous issues the characteristic fea¬ 
tures of the Colonial, Dutch Colonial, Half-timber, English Plaster, Chicago School of Architecture, Swiss Chalet type; the so-called Northern Tradition, 
.and the Tudor style were developed and illustrated at length by prominent architects interested in each of these types,.. The present article is the last 
one of the series .— Editor.] . ' ' . 
T he words “Spanish Mission” bring to 
the mind but one thought,—a group of 
buildings scattered over Southern Califor¬ 
nia. The buildings and the location seem 
to be synonymous; the one suggests the 
other. Instantly the mind pictures a warm 
and sunny climate, a group of palm and 
magnolia trees, in the shadow of which 
nestles a low and rambling building, covered 
with vines and rose bushes. Charming! 
we exclaim. Yes, charming beyond de¬ 
scription. California, the land of sunshine 
and roses, and, as Stoddard says of South¬ 
ern California, “we think of it, and love it, 
as the dreamland of the Spanish Mission.” 
The Spanish missionaries coming up 
from Mexico were the first to settle in Cali¬ 
fornia, having as their ambition the con¬ 
version of the Indians. They began their 
enterprise with rude adobe huts, but as they 
became prosperous and successful, these 
huts gave way to extensive buildings, con¬ 
structed in the form of a .qtiadrangle,' sur¬ 
rounding an inner 
eourt. The best ex¬ 
amples can be seen in 
the remains of Santa 
Barbara, San Juan 
Capistrano, San Fer¬ 
nando Rey, Carmel, 
San Gabriel, San Luis 
Rey and San Miguel. 
This mode of build¬ 
ing around an open 
space, forming an in¬ 
ner court or patio, was 
brought over with the 
Spaniards from their 
native land. 
It was just the style 
of building best adapt¬ 
ed to-their needs,-and frequently a number 
of patios were used as the demands required. 
Wkhin these enclosures their' cattle and 
herds were driven at night for protection-, 
where they were safe from tEe savages and 
wild beasts. These settlements were in re¬ 
ality large ecclesiastical farms with their 
cattle" grazing "on the adjoining plains, and 
the grain growing in the surrounding fields. 
Here also the Indian's were gathered and 
instructed in the art bf civilization, religion; 
trades and farming. .Isolated as they were 
in those days, it was necessary for each 
mission-to provide for its own wants'; there¬ 
fore, ‘ rodms and apartments of different 
kinds were sfet asid'e for their particular pur¬ 
poses; and all gathered together, as it were, 
undeii one roof. ‘ " - ■ 
The most prominent portion of the build^ 
ing from the exterior would be the church, 
with its dominating belfry, while around it 
would be collected the bedrooms or cells for 
the monks, the refectory, tire kitchen, hos^ 
p i t a 1, schoolrooms, 
workshops and sunr 
dry buildings. 
This is, in short, the 
history and descrip'^ 
tion of the so-called 
“'Spanish Mission’^ 
style of architectures 
These settlements 
were made by Spanish 
religious orders en¬ 
gaged in f r o n t i eE 
■ work, and this class 
Q'f men naturally 
w'ould oot bring with 
them artists, or archi¬ 
tects, so they built 
with the best talent 
A Spanish doorway on a house at Rye; 
Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson, architects 
The mission of San Luis Rey in Southern California. The tiled roof, arched cloisters, 
bell tower and facades are prominent characteristics 
(II) 
