History of Styles of Domestic American Architecture
THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY:
American colonial architecture 17th Century Colonial: Term applies to both New England and Virginia architecture. Note regional differences, however.
THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY:
Georgian architecture (1714-1776): English-inspired colonial architecture. Marked by a greater concern for style and higher standards of comfort. Fairly homogeneous in both New England and Southern colonies.
Federal architecture Especially common in New England; a traditionalist approach to classicism, heavily influenced by English models. Charles Bulfinch, Samuel MacIntyre.
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: The period is characterized by Romantic revivals and eclecticism.
Greek Revival architecture (1818-1850): The first truly national style in the United States. Strong associational values. Permeated all levels of building.
Gothic revival (c. 1820-1860): Strong associational values of religion and nature. Found in both ecclesiastical and residential architecture. A wide range of archaeological accuracy, from Richard Upjohn's urban churches to "Carpenter's Gothic" cottages. Examples: Andrew Jackson Downing’s Cottage Residences (Cottage Residences google book) (develops into Victorian)
Jeffersonian Idealist: An intellectual and moral approach to classicism, at first linked to Roman models. Symbolic and associational values stressed. Best example: Thomas Jefferson.
Rationalist: Emphasized structure and classical building techniques, such as stone vaulting and domes. Benjamin Latrobe.
Italianate architecture A.J. Downing and others; a Renaissance revival.
Second Empire Baroque (1860-1880): French origin; used for public and residential architecture.
Victorian (1840-1900): English origin; used for ecclesiastical, public, and residential architecture.
Richardsonian Romanesque (1870-1895)
Shingle Style / Queen Anne (1879-1900): Used for residential architecture.
Balloon-framing (not a style per se, but associated with Victorian in Kunstler’s discussion)
Beaux-Arts architecture Classical Revival (1885-1920): Also called Academic Classicism, or Beaux-Arts Classicism. Related revivals: Renaissance, French Renaissance, Flemish.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
American Craftsman (early 1900s)
Prairie School (1893-1920): Frank Lloyd Wright and his followers.
Frank Lloyd Wright, or Organic Architecture (1920-1959): Usonian house (1930s)
Art Deco (1925-1940): Also called Art Moderne, Streamlined Modern
International Style
Post-Modernism (1964-1996ff.)
