Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the newly founded United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815, which was heavily based on the works of Andrea Palladio with several innovations on Palladian architecture by Thomas Jefferson and his contemporaries first for Jefferson's Monticello estate and followed by many examples in government building throughout the United States. An excellent example of this is the White House. This style shares its name with its era, the Federalist Era. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design in the United States of the same time period. The style broadly corresponds to the classicism of Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Regency architecture in Britain and to the French Empire style. It may also be termed Adamesque architecture. The White House and Monticello were setting stones for federal architecture.
Central Pavilion, 1793–94, by Charles Bulfinch, at the Tontine Crescent, Boston
In the early American republic, the founding generation consciously chose to associate the nation with the ancient democracies of Greece and the republican values of Rome. Grecian aspirations informed the Greek Revival, lasting into the 1850s. Using Roman architectural vocabulary,[2] the Federal style applied to the balanced and symmetrical version of Georgian architecture that had been practiced in the American colonies' new motifs of neoclassical architecture as it was epitomized in Britain by Robert Adam, who published his designs in 1792.
American Federal architecture typically uses plain surfaces with attenuated detail, usually isolated in panels, tablets, and friezes. It also had a flatter, smoother façade and rarely used pilasters. It was most influenced by the interpretation of ancient Roman architecture, fashionable after the unearthing of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The bald eagle was a common symbol used in this style, with the ellipse a frequent architectural motif.
The classicizing manner of constructions and town planning undertaken by the federal government was expressed in federal projects of lighthouses, harbor buildings, and hospitals. It can be seen in the rationalizing, urbanistic layout of L'Enfant Plan of Washington and in the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 in New York.[3] The historic eastern part of Bleecker Street in New York, between Broadway and the Bowery, is home to Federal-style row houses at 7 to 13 and 21 to 25 Bleecker Street. The classicizing style of Federal architecture can especially be seen in the quintessential New England meeting house, with their lofty and complex towers by architects such as Lavius Fillmore and Asher Benjamin.[4]
^The design vocabulary of Federal architecture is accessibly illustrated and contrasted with Greek Revival in Rachel Carley, The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture 1994, ch. 5 "Neoclassical Styles", p. 90ff.
^For the federal government's role in Federal architectural style and its symbolism, see Lois Craig, ed. The Federal Presence: Architecture, Politics and Symbols in United States Government Building (Federal Architecture Project, Cambridge: MIT Press) 1978, chs. 1–3, with brief text and extended captions to multiple illustrations.
^"British Empire / Thirteen Colonies (USA) / Early Independence-era / Religious | Colonial Architecture Project".
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Not to be confused with Federation architecture Federal style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the newly founded United States between c 1780 and 1830 and particularly from 1785 to 1815 which was heavily based on the works of Andrea Palladio with several innovations on Palladian architecture by Thomas Jefferson and his contemporaries first for Jefferson s Monticello estate and followed by many examples in government building throughout the United States An excellent example of this is the White House This style shares its name with its era the Federalist Era The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design in the United States of the same time period The style broadly corresponds to the classicism of Biedermeier style in the German speaking lands Regency architecture in Britain and to the French Empire style It may also be termed Adamesque architecture The White House and Monticello were setting stones for federal architecture Central Pavilion 1793 94 by Charles Bulfinch at the Tontine Crescent Boston Elfreth s Alley in Philadelphia features Colonial and Federal style homes Dating to 1702 it is thought to be the United States oldest residential street 1 better source needed Federal Hill mansion 1795 at My Old Kentucky Home State Park Bardstown Kentucky Old Town Hall in Salem Massachusetts dating to 1816 17 Hamilton Hall was built in 1805 by Samuel McIntire in Salem Massachusetts Massachusetts State House 1798 in a drawing by Alexander Jackson Davis 1827 The South Carolina State House in Columbia South Carolina an epitome of the American Federal style of architecture In the early American republic the founding generation consciously chose to associate the nation with the ancient democracies of Greece and the republican values of Rome Grecian aspirations informed the Greek Revival lasting into the 1850s Using Roman architectural vocabulary 2 the Federal style applied to the balanced and symmetrical version of Georgian architecture that had been practiced in the American colonies new motifs of neoclassical architecture as it was epitomized in Britain by Robert Adam who published his designs in 1792 Contents 1 Characteristics 2 Legacy of Federal architecture in Salem Massachusetts 3 Architects of the Federal period 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksCharacteristics EditAmerican Federal architecture typically uses plain surfaces with attenuated detail usually isolated in panels tablets and friezes It also had a flatter smoother facade and rarely used pilasters It was most influenced by the interpretation of ancient Roman architecture fashionable after the unearthing of Pompeii and Herculaneum The bald eagle was a common symbol used in this style with the ellipse a frequent architectural motif The classicizing manner of constructions and town planning undertaken by the federal government was expressed in federal projects of lighthouses harbor buildings and hospitals It can be seen in the rationalizing urbanistic layout of L Enfant Plan of Washington and in the Commissioners Plan of 1811 in New York 3 The historic eastern part of Bleecker Street in New York between Broadway and the Bowery is home to Federal style row houses at 7 to 13 and 21 to 25 Bleecker Street The classicizing style of Federal architecture can especially be seen in the quintessential New England meeting house with their lofty and complex towers by architects such as Lavius Fillmore and Asher Benjamin 4 This American neoclassical high style was the idiom of America s first professional architects such as Charles Bulfinch and Minard Lafever Robert Adam and James Adam were leading influences through their books 5 Legacy of Federal architecture in Salem Massachusetts EditIn Salem Massachusetts there are numerous examples of American colonial architecture and Federal architecture in two historic districts Chestnut Street District which is part of the Samuel McIntire Historic District containing 407 buildings and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site consisting of 12 historic structures and about 9 acres 4 ha of land along the waterfront Architects of the Federal period EditAsher Benjamin Charles Bulfinch John Holden Greene James Hoban Thomas Jefferson Minard Lafever Benjamin Latrobe Pierre L Enfant John McComb Jr Samuel McIntire Robert Mills Alexander Parris William Strickland Martin E Thompson William Thornton Ithiel Town Ammi B YoungModern reassessment of the American architecture of the Federal period began with Fiske Kimball 6 See also EditAdam style Boscobel Garrison New York Hamilton Grange National Memorial List of houses in Fairmount Park Lyre arm Morris Jumel MansionReferences Edit Historical marker on Elfreth s Alley The design vocabulary of Federal architecture is accessibly illustrated and contrasted with Greek Revival in Rachel Carley The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture 1994 ch 5 Neoclassical Styles p 90ff For the federal government s role in Federal architectural style and its symbolism see Lois Craig ed The Federal Presence Architecture Politics and Symbols in United States Government Building Federal Architecture Project Cambridge MIT Press 1978 chs 1 3 with brief text and extended captions to multiple illustrations British Empire Thirteen Colonies USA Early Independence era Religious Colonial Architecture Project Creating Your Architectural Style Pelican Publishing p 89 ISBN 978 1 4556 0309 1 Domestic Architecture of the American Colonies and the Early Republic 1922 Further reading EditCraig Lois A The Federal Presence Architecture Politics and National Design The MIT Press 1984 ISBN 0 262 53059 7 External links EditDefinition of Federal style architecture Introduction to Federal style architecture Federal Style 1780 1820 Coleman Hollister House Federal Style Patterns 1780 1820 Bibliography for federal style research photographs of federal houses federal style pattern book Portals Architecture Modern history United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Federal architecture amp oldid 1129250805, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
