Architecture in Arcadia
Arcadia is popular for many reasons and the diverse architectural styles and overall quality and variety of architecture is at the top of the list.
Arcadia is so diverse that it has homes other then anywhere else in Greater Phoenix and thankfully very few tuscanites have appeared. Rather the new homes which replace the original ranches are a better match to the idea, culture and history then tuscanites.
Video Presentation of Homes and Architecture in Arcadia
This is a desert that’s an oasis, it hearkens back to the old Phoenix which wasn’t so hot and widespread. Arcadia is named for Virgil’s Arcadia - a pastoral and peaceful region in Greece.
It was developed to be large 5-10 acre lots for citrus groves. Many of those remain, even some of the original large parcels, but most have been reduced to 1-2 acre lots or smaller.
Arcadia is so green because its fed by the irrigated water provided by the Arcadia Water Company. The lush green sprawling lawns are a wonderful setting for the large ranch homes through out the neighborhood. These large irrigated lots are part of what makes Arcadia today and the owners have made the effort to preserve this style: the neighborhood is quickly developing but the areas rural past remains.
The primary style of homes in Arcadia are ranch homes, from the smaller ranches at the southern to a more prominent ones along Lafayette and Exeter. Many of these have the original orange trees planted decades ago.
Arcadia is so green because its fed by the irrigated water provided by the Arcadia Water Company. The lush green sprawling lawns are a wonderful setting for the large ranch homes through out the neighborhood. These large irrigated lots are part of what makes Arcadia today and the owners have made the effort to preserve this style: the neighborhood is quickly developing but the areas rural past remains.
The primary style of homes in Arcadia are ranch homes, from the smaller ranches at the southern to a more prominent ones along Lafayette and Exeter. Many of these have the original orange trees planted decades ago.
Architectural styles include.
- Mid-century modern: a rather rare style, these homes are scattered throughout Arcadia. There is even a Frank Lloyd Wright home and one by his son as well.
- Revivals: Some date to the 1920’s but these are the Pueblo revivals are rare and not repeated in the new homes being built.
- Colonial Revival and Georgian Revival in the loose descriptive way, is the style of the many new homes being built these days in Arcadia. These tend to be very large an prominent homes. Often these are accompanied by beautiful landscaping, even in the front yards for all neighbors to enjoy looking at.
- Prairie influenced:
- French influenced:
- Contemporary: There are a few very good quality examples of contemporary homes, a few of which you can see in the small photos below.
photos: Artur Ciesielski
Arcadia is so beautiful not only because of the structural architecture, but also for the landscape architecture. Just as much through and work goes into it as the homes themselves. Many of the homes focus some life on the street with pergolas, terraces and sitting areas in the front of homes where neighbors can see each other.
That’s an interesting idea and one also reminiscent of the old Phoenix where it was more common for people to congregate in a neighborhood rather then turn inward to the back yards of homes walled of from the city.
The best way to see and explore Arcadia is on a bicycle. That way you can meander through the many small and large streets, cul-de-sac’s, parks, hidden sidewalks and the many niches which you’d never see in a car.
The best way to see and explore Arcadia is on a bicycle. That way you can meander through the many small and large streets, cul-de-sac’s, parks, hidden sidewalks and the many niches which you’d never see in a car.
- View Arcadia homes for sale.
- Get in Touch with an Arcadia agent.
