contact

Chronology of Styles in New York Architecture

The Seventeenth Century:

17th Century Colonial
        Term applies to both colonial Dutch and English architecture.  

The Eighteenth Century:

Georgian (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.

Neoclassicism (c.1780-1820)
        There are several variations:
        Federalist:  Especially common in New England; a traditionalist
        approach to classicism, heavily influenced by English models.  Charles
        Bulfinch, Samuel MacIntyre.
        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.

Notes on the English Regency style.

The Nineteenth Century:

The period is characterized by Romantic revivals and eclecticism.

Greek Revival (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.

The "Corporate Style" (c.1800-1900)
        Practical architecture for engineering and commercial purposes; especially
        early factories.  In its time thought to be a "style-less style."

Egyptian Revival (1820-1850)
        Used primarily for memorials, cemetaries, prisons, and later, warehouses.

Neo-Georgian/ neo-Federal

Italianate, or Italian Villa Mode (1840-1860)
        A residential style used by A.J. Downing and others; a Renaissance revival.

Second Empire Baroque (1860-1880)
        French origin; used for public and residential architecture.

High Victorian Gothic (1860-1880)
        English origin; used for ecclesiastical, public, and residential architecture.
Romanesque Revival/ Stick and/or Shingle Style/Queen Anne (1879-1900)
Arts and Crafts
        Used for residential architecture.
Expressionism
Rundbogenstil (German round-arched neo-Romanesque) 
Moorish Revival Popular for synagogues.

Chicago School (1885-1915)
        Commercial architecture; skyscrapers.

Classical Revival (1885-1920)
        Also called Academic Classicism, or Beaux-Arts Classicism.
        Related revivals:  Renaissance Revival, French Renaissance, Flemish.

Gothic (Collegiate Gothic) (1885-1930)

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
        Traditional styles continue; Modernism arises.

Prairie School (1893-1920)
        Frank Lloyd Wright and his followers.

Spanish Revival (1920-1930)

Wrightian, or Organic Architecture (1920-1959)
        F.L. Wright's later style.

Historicist Skyscrapers (1900-1940)

Art Nouveau

Neo-Gothic. (1905-1930)

Setback Style Skyscrapers  (1920-1950)
	Also called Wedding Cake style.		

		
Art Deco (1925-1940)
        Also called Art Moderne, Streamlined Modern.

International Style:
        International Style I (Early Modern) (1929-1940)
        International Style II (1945-1970)

Formalism (1957-present)
        A renewed interest in monumental qualities and an interest in form for
        expressive  purposes.  Eero Saarinen.

Futurist (1955-present)
         usually marked by striking shapes, clean lines, and advanced materials.

Brutalism (1957-present)
        Style inspired by LeCorbusier's late works; characterized by the use of
        rough-cast concrete and massive forms.  

Structural Expressionism. Also called "high-tech modernism",(1975 to the present)

Late Modern (International Style III) (1970-present)
        Philip Johnson (before his conversion to Post-Modernism) and I.M. Pei, among
        others.

Post-Modernism (1964-present)

Deconstructivist