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Style in architecture, especially at the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, was at times a very political thing. In the first part of the 19th century, taking its cue from its British cousin, America started exploring many strands of architectural style. The sober classical style we sometimes call Colonial Style, with its roots in Palladio and ancient Rome, was less and less in tune with American identity as the country transformed from a former British colony into one of the most powerful and technologically advanced nations on Earth.
In my next few blog posts I'll explore some of the various styles that evolved and grew in popularity. These include Greek Revival, Gothic, Tudor and Elizabethan Revivals, Italianate, Stick Style, and the eclectic combinations of styles that might as well be called what it is, Eclectic.
If I avoid using the term "Victorian" it is only because in some respect these are all Victorian styles. The mid to late 19th century was a period of unprecedented variety. Architectural styles spanning a period of 2500 years were revived and practiced simultaneously. A successful businessman or plantation owner might choose to have his mansion designed to look like a Greek temple of the 5th century B.C. Or he might opt for a sham medieval fortress on a hilltop. A hard-working farmer who built up his homestead might choose to build his house in the form of a Gothic cottage or a miniaturized Italian Renaissance palace.
By the end of the 18th century book printing had become much cheaper and books became readily available to the general population. Alexander Jackson Davis and Andrew Jackson Downing were 2 hugely influential architects who spread ideas on style through their numerous books. With the spreading of American territories these books carried the latest ideas right to the edges of the frontier.
Although houses of virtually every style could be found in every state and territory of the growing nation, certain regions gravitated towards specific styles. There were a number of reasons for this, including the availability of local materials, climatic factors and influential individuals, trendsetters. For example, the south-east saw a particular flourishing of the Greek Revival style, which lent such a unique character to the great plantation mansions of the antebellum period. The style, with its wide open colonnades and cross-ventilated plans, was an excellent solution for cooling in a hot-humid climate.
If you enjoyed reading this blog post I hope you will read my others and also visit my website, HistoricHomePlans.net, where I have home plans for sale. These plans are of real historic homes from across America and were made by the Historic American Building Survey (HABS). The HABS website is a great resource for anybody interested in traditional American architectural styles. However the site is huge and it's not always easy finding things. So on my website I have cataloged some of the best home plans and made full size (18"x24" and 24"x36") architectural prints available for purchase.
Here are examples of a few of my favorite homes-
Bagatelle Plantation, St. James Parish, LA, 1842 - a small Greek Revival country house
Tower Grove House, St. Louis, MO, 1868 - a perfect example of the Italianate Style
Tower Grove Gatehouse, St. Louis, MO, 1870 - a miniature Gothic castle
Roberts House, Carson City, NV, 1859 - Carpenter Gothic perfection
Smith House, Riverdale, MC, 1890s - a Queen Anne style Victorian gem
Questions and comments are welcome, so please feel free to write. However, to eliminate spam I DO moderate comments and review them before they are posted.
Peace, happiness and good health to you all.
Antonio
Style in architecture, especially at the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, was at times a very political thing. In the first part of the 19th century, taking its cue from its British cousin, America started exploring many strands of architectural style. The sober classical style we sometimes call Colonial Style, with its roots in Palladio and ancient Rome, was less and less in tune with American identity as the country transformed from a former British colony into one of the most powerful and technologically advanced nations on Earth.
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| Villa for Senator John Pope by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1811 |
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| Floor plans of the Pope villa |
In my next few blog posts I'll explore some of the various styles that evolved and grew in popularity. These include Greek Revival, Gothic, Tudor and Elizabethan Revivals, Italianate, Stick Style, and the eclectic combinations of styles that might as well be called what it is, Eclectic.
 |
| Design for a Gothic castle by Alexander Jackson Davis, around 1832 |
If I avoid using the term "Victorian" it is only because in some respect these are all Victorian styles. The mid to late 19th century was a period of unprecedented variety. Architectural styles spanning a period of 2500 years were revived and practiced simultaneously. A successful businessman or plantation owner might choose to have his mansion designed to look like a Greek temple of the 5th century B.C. Or he might opt for a sham medieval fortress on a hilltop. A hard-working farmer who built up his homestead might choose to build his house in the form of a Gothic cottage or a miniaturized Italian Renaissance palace.
 |
| A design for an Italianate villa by Andrew Jackson Downing, 1842 |
By the end of the 18th century book printing had become much cheaper and books became readily available to the general population. Alexander Jackson Davis and Andrew Jackson Downing were 2 hugely influential architects who spread ideas on style through their numerous books. With the spreading of American territories these books carried the latest ideas right to the edges of the frontier.
 |
| Stone-Young Plantation, Montgomery, AL, 1852, photo from Historic American Building Survey |
Although houses of virtually every style could be found in every state and territory of the growing nation, certain regions gravitated towards specific styles. There were a number of reasons for this, including the availability of local materials, climatic factors and influential individuals, trendsetters. For example, the south-east saw a particular flourishing of the Greek Revival style, which lent such a unique character to the great plantation mansions of the antebellum period. The style, with its wide open colonnades and cross-ventilated plans, was an excellent solution for cooling in a hot-humid climate.
 |
| Stone-Young Plantation, floor plan by HABS |
If you enjoyed reading this blog post I hope you will read my others and also visit my website, HistoricHomePlans.net, where I have home plans for sale. These plans are of real historic homes from across America and were made by the Historic American Building Survey (HABS). The HABS website is a great resource for anybody interested in traditional American architectural styles. However the site is huge and it's not always easy finding things. So on my website I have cataloged some of the best home plans and made full size (18"x24" and 24"x36") architectural prints available for purchase.
Here are examples of a few of my favorite homes-
Bagatelle Plantation, St. James Parish, LA, 1842 - a small Greek Revival country house
Tower Grove House, St. Louis, MO, 1868 - a perfect example of the Italianate Style
Tower Grove Gatehouse, St. Louis, MO, 1870 - a miniature Gothic castle
Roberts House, Carson City, NV, 1859 - Carpenter Gothic perfection
Smith House, Riverdale, MC, 1890s - a Queen Anne style Victorian gem
Questions and comments are welcome, so please feel free to write. However, to eliminate spam I DO moderate comments and review them before they are posted.
Peace, happiness and good health to you all.
Antonio
