The house in Europe, 800–1450

The variety of house types in medieval Europe can be ascribed to the interplay of three factors: culture, materials and climate. Each of these are considered in this regional survey of Europe. Stepping back further from the details of the building types, broader patterns begin to emerge. In northern and western Europe the core of the medieval house was the hall - a large, multifunctional space, which formed the largest room. In the Mediterranean, the courtyard plans had particular significance and were used in houses of higher status, providing an arrangement that allowed seclusion from the street, shade, and access to the open air.