Click on a photo to view a larger image. A traditional house-barn near Wishek, McIntosh County, ca. Many of the earlier houses were built with the family living quarters and the barn as one structure. Franz Ressler home near St. Anthony, Morton County. The later addition on the right continues to maintain all the typical German-Russian architectural elements.
Numerous examples remain in North Dakota of traditional German-Russian houses.
Although modernized, distinct characteristics of German-Russian architecture are easily identified. The overall simplicity of design and modesty of size reflects the lack of importance of the house as a status symbol for the German-Russian. This organic extension of the treeless prairie required little imported material or outside labor to build. It was utilitarian in both space and design. Nearly every aspect of this house was energy efficient, for winter weather as well as summer weather.