Dramatic columns are a key feature in the Colonial Revival style.

JUST SOUTH OF THE URBAN CORE, DELANEY PARK IS ONE OF ORLANDO’S MOST QUIETLY ENCHANTING NEIGHBORHOODS, a place where century-old oaks shade winding sidewalks, and the city’s architectural history unfolds house by house.

Tucked between lakes and leafy streets is an eclectic mix of early-20th-century homes, each reflecting the aspirations, craftsmanship, and cultural influences of Orlando’s earliest residents.

From Craftsman bungalows and Colonial Revival manors to quirky Art Deco and streamlined mid-century forms, Delaney Park offers surprising architectural diversity. Here’s a closer look at some of the standout styles captured in the neighborhood today, and the history behind them.

Colonial Revival Style (Classical Revival)

ORIGINS

Colonial Revival architecture swept the United States from the late 1800s to the 1950s, as Americans sought a connection to the country’s early history. Drawing heavily from Georgian and Federal-era buildings, the style emphasized symmetry, classical elements, and stately presence.

KEY FEATURES SEEN IN DELANEY PARK

• Tall, often fluted columns (sometimes Corinthian or Ionic)
• Symmetrical façades with centered front doors
• Multi-pane, double-hung windows
• Decorative dentil molding and elaborate cornices
• Pediments with circular or oval windows

The blue house with its towering fluted columns, red-trimmed Corinthian capitals, and balanced windows is a quintessential Southern take on the Colonial Revival style. It’s both elegant, formal, and unmistakably grand.

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.”—Frank Gehry

WHY IT WORKS (AND SOMETIMES DOESN’T) IN FLORIDA

The style’s magnificence grabs attention, and its deep porches provide shade and airflow, all major pluses. But Colonial Revival homes can also be maintenance-heavy in Florida: wood columns and elaborate trim are vulnerable to humidity, storms, and sun exposure. Still, their timeless beauty makes them perennial neighborhood favorites.

Wraparound porches create welcoming areas for neighbors to gather.

Craftsman / Bungalow Style

ORIGINS

The American Craftsman movement emerged in the early 1900s as part of a national shift away from ornate Victorian excess toward handcrafted simplicity. Inspired by the British Arts & Crafts movement, the Craftsman aesthetic valued natural materials, low-slung proportions, and honest workmanship.

KEY FEATURES SEEN IN DELANEY PARK

• Low-pitched, wide roofs with exposed beams and rafters
• Textured siding; often shingle or clapboard
• Deep porches supported by tapered or stone-clad columns
• Multipaned windows and inviting front doors
• Warm, earthy color palettes

Seen here, a 1910 white bungalow Wraparound porches create welcoming areas for neighbors to gather. Perfectly captures this spirit of welcoming, functional, and connected to the outdoors.

WHY IT WORKS IN FLORIDA

Craftsman homes are extremely well-suited to our subtropical climate. Their large shaded porches create natural cooling zones, while wide eaves protect interiors from harsh sun and afternoon storms. The style’s practical, grounded look also complements Florida’s landscaping and relaxed living style.

The flat roof and horizontal lines are key features of the Art Deco style.

Art Deco / Streamline Moderne

ORIGINS

Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles emerged in the 1920s–40s, celebrating modernity, speed, and geometric simplicity. While Deco is more decorative, Streamline Moderne leans into sleek, aerodynamic forms; an architectural reflection of the Machine Age.

KEY FEATURES SEEN IN DELANEY PARK

• Flat roofs and strong horizontal lines
• Smooth, stuccoed surfaces
• Glass-block windows
• Rounded “ship’s prow” corners
• Porthole windows and minimal ornamentation

The pink structure is a classic Florida example; it’s playful, clean-lined, and reminiscent of Miami’s Deco heritage.

WHY IT WORKS IN FLORIDA

Streamline Moderne feels right at home in a tropical setting. The style’s pastel colors, smooth stucco, and nautical references have a breezy coastal energy. Flat roofs can present challenges during rainy season, but improved waterproofing technology has made preservation far easier today.

A whimsical weathervane sits on top of this Delaney Park home.

Victorian Influence

ORIGINS

Queen Anne was one of the most popular Victorian styles of the late 19th century, known for its ornate detailing, whimsical shapes, and asymmetry. In Florida, the style arrived via northern transplants who brought East Coast architectural tastes south.

KEY FEATURES SEEN IN DELANEY PARK

• Rounded turrets or towers
• Decorative shingles in varying shapes
• Ornate trim and brackets
• Multipaned windows with curved arrangements
• Highly detailed eaves and cornices

The rounded tower pictured here, with its fish-scale shingles, decorative banding, slender columns, and weathervane, makes the home instantly recognizable as a Queen Anne-influenced structure.

“I don’t believe architecture has to speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature in the guise of sunlight and wind.”—Tadao Ando

WHY IT’S RARE IN FLORIDA

Queen Anne homes require constant upkeep. Intricate woodwork, ornate trim, and textured façade elements are vulnerable to humidity and pests. Still, the few that remain in Orlando are beloved precisely because of their charm and rarity.

DELANEY PARK:
A Neighborhood of Architectural Time Capsules

Walking through Delaney Park is like flipping through the chapters of Orlando’s architectural evolution. Craftsman bungalows speak to a time of early settlement and handcrafted simplicity. Stately Colonial Revival residences represent Orlando’s early 20th-century aspirations. Meanwhile, quirky Deco homes and Victorian remnants add color and personality to the streetscape.

What ties all these homes together is the neighborhood’s quiet reverence for preservation. In a city known for reinvention, Delaney Park stands as a reminder that history—whether expressed in shingles, columns, stucco, or glass block—still thrives in the heart of Orlando.