Herbert Smenner was one of the most prolific architects in the east central Indiana area from 1920 up until his death in 1950. During those three decades, Smenner designed some of Muncie's most beloved and recognizable buildings, including churches, schools, homes, and governmental institutions. The purpose of this study is to study trends in architecture from 1920 to 1950 through Herbert Smenner's work, to determine if he followed these trends, and to see if these trends themselves influenced his work.Smenner was a very sought after architect in Muncie and the surrounding area. His main clientele were the upper class of Muncie, as well as being the choice for many public commissions. Smenner's work, for the most part, did follow the architectural trends of the time. He worked mostly in the revival styles, which was the primary mode of choice during the 1920's and 1930's. In the early 1930's he also designed several buildings in the popular Art Deco and Art Moderne styles. His innovative design the Harrison Township School in 1924, was popular among many regional architects who came to study the unique layout of the school.Smenner was a troubled man. Throughout his career he battled illness, depression and severe issues with his temper. His work was widely appreciated, but the man faced many trials in the public eye do to his personality and legal problems. Smenner was often known as a copy artist by his peers. Many of his contemporaries felt that Smenner never had the creative skills to be a true architect, and that he was simply a wonderful draftsman interpreting the designs of others. Sadly, he took his own life at the age of 52 only leaving behind his buildings as a testament to his life and accomplishments. / Department of Architecture

This thesis describes how components of the British Arts and Crafts Movement crossed the Atlantic and inspired the American Gustav Stickley's Craftsman residential architecture. As part of the Movement's reaction against the Industrial Revolution, Stickley's Craftsman residences emphasized honest and simple design and the use of natural materials. My thesis identifies the expressions of Stickley's ideals in the case study of a surviving Craftsman home located in the suburb of Irvington in Indianapolis, Indiana. The case study examines the house's configuration, construction methods, original materials and ornamental motifs. This study is particularly significant because original plans and documentation are available for research. The residence has had few owners and has therefore retained most of its original features and materials. These factors make the residence an exceptional example of Craftsman architecture. / Department of Architecture

À partir de l'examen des maisons réalisées à flanc de coteaux par Bernard Maybeck (1862-1957) durant la période comprise entre 1892 et 1904 aux États-Unis à Berkeley, dans l'État de la Californie, l'auteur aborde comment s'est créé un langage architectural unique inspirée de le mouvement Arts and Crafts et plus particulièrement des écrits théoriques de l'auteur et critique John Ruskin (1819-1900). Sous l'influence de Maybeck, l'ensemble bâti des maisons « gothiques » devient un outil d'influence majeur dans la mise en place d'un nouveau mode de vie centré autour de l'architecture et de la nature. Le site lui-même influence substantiellement les recherches plastiques par leur liaison importante au site d'implantation. Comprenant ce développement architectural comme étant une interprétation du paysage et de l'esprit gothique théorisé par Ruskin, l'architecte affirme la nécessité de revenir à une vie plus « simple » où l'immixtion entre l'homme et la nature est en harmonie. / Using residential architecture constructed by Bernard Maybeck (1862-1957) in the hillside of Berkeley (United States of America, California) during the period comprised between 1892 and 1904, this thesis shows how was articulated a unique architectural language inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and more specifically the English author, theorician and critic John Ruskin (1819-1900). Under Maybeck's guidance, the architectural ensemble that he affectionately called his « gothic houses » became an important tool helping the establishment of a new way of life centered around architecture and nature. Berkeley's hillsides and landscape influenced considerably the artistic research, as the houses had to reflect their surroundings. Understanding this architectural development as an interpretation of the landscape and of the nature of Gothic as defined by Ruskin, Maybeck shows the necessity to go back to a « simpler » life where man and nature are in harmony.