Chapter 1 Architectural Styles 11
just after the American Revolution. Similar to
the Georgian style, the Federal style was infl u-
enced by French Rococo and inspired by the
classical architecture of Greece and Rome. The
Federal style was more delicate and refi ned than
the Georgian, yet it could be more ornamental.
Like Georgian houses, Federal style houses
were symmetrical, multistory dwellings with
a low-pitched or fl at roof. The entrance was
centered on the front facade with windows
arranged symmetrically around the structure. It
was common for the windows to have a fl at stone
lintel and sill, often with a keystone and a deco-
rative frieze (horizontal band) placed above.
The front entrance of Federal style houses was
the distinguishing feature that set them apart
from Georgian houses. Federal style buildings
had a semicircular or elliptical fanlight above
the front door, whereas the Georgian style did
not. Often the door was fl anked by sidelights
(side windows). See Figure 1-12.
essays, and books on architectural design and
construction). Georgian was the dominant style
of the American colonies until the end of the
Revolutionary War in 1783. The classical archi-
tecture of the Italian Renaissance infl uenced the
Georgian style. An emphasis on symmetry, geo-
metrical proportions, and classic formal lines
with ornamental trim are elements of Georgian
style, as shown in Figure 1-11.
The Georgian house was one or two stories
with a gabled roof. It was typically two rooms
deep with symmetrically placed windows and
a centered entrance located on the front facade.
The Georgian house originally consisted of
two rooms on each side of a central entry hall.
A staircase in the entry hall led to four similar
rooms on the second fl oor.
Federal/Adam
The Federal style, also known as the Adam
style, symbolizes the period of American history
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Figure 1-11. The Longfellow house in Cambridge, Massachusetts is an excellent example of the Georgian style.
Note the perfect symmetry and formal lines.
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