The Story of a House: Money, Class, and a dash of Conspicuous Consumption.

Food, clothing, and shelter are some of the most basic human needs. Yet the quality and quantity of these three necessities varies widely with the multiple variables involved- race, gender, era- and, most prominently, class. When it comes to housing, money and class have traditionally been signified by aesthetically pleasing architecture, high-quality materials, size, and attention to detail.

A good example of a house of the "moneyed classes" is the Clement House/Red Cross Building. Located at 786 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, this mansion was constructed in 1914 in the English Tudor Revival style.


The four elements of "Money and Class" houses can be seen in this mansion.

Just focusing on the facade, we can see the use of size to convey grandeur and status. High-quality Onondaga limestone has been arranged for textural interest on the outer walls.

A two-story bay with parapet is also displayed. Note the use of (expensive) leaded windows and the carved rosettes on the parapet.

Directly above the parapet is a Dormer with a finial.

Bays and parapets are prominently used in the facade, and the detailing that goes into them is quite impressive.






Also of interest in the facade are the paired chimneys with caps and the Tudor Revival arches in the balustrade .







This form of conspicuous consumption can still be seen today in the ostentatious McMansions that dot the landscape. However, these newer homes use the only idea of what should constitute a house of "Money and Class." This involves the use of size (the bigger the better) and random architectural components thrown together, giving the impression of a giant Picasso of a home- all mismatched elements, vastness without proportion, style without substance.