The Victorian architectural style includes several related architectural styles that were very popular in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century in various countries around the world, including the United States. It is called Victorian architecture because its rise and popularity coincided with the period in which British Victoria ruled the British Empire, between 1837 and 1901.
The Victorian style began in England thanks to the industrial revolution, which completely changed civil engineering, among many other things. The development and expansion of railway systems and industrial production taking advantage of economies of scale has reduced the cost of producing and transporting various building materials, as well as decorative details that architects can now incorporate into their housing designs, pleasing consumers. future owners.
1. General characteristics of American Victorian architecture style
Although there are many Victorian styles, they all possess some or all of the following standout features:
External features
- Pitched roof with multiple slopes, minimum two
round corner
- Many towers, turrets and roof windows
- Windows and bay windows with stained glass
decorative wood furniture
- Light paint, usually white or other colors in all light colors
Interior features
- It's houses with two or three floors.
- Complex flat design with many different shaped corners
high ceiling
- Complex ceiling with wooden ornaments
ornate stairs
As can be seen, the main feature of the Victorian style is the widespread use of decorative and decorative elements in both the facades and interiors of the houses. They often have a complex floor plan, with many distinct spaces, multi-storey roofs, and sometimes multiple attics, turrets, balustrades and pedes. The presence of a large number of windows is also characteristic.
2. Victorian American architecture houses
The various architectural styles of the Victorian era spread throughout the world, giving examples of both public and private works on all continents. Some specific Victorian styles are ubiquitous, while others are limited to certain countries or regions.
In the case of the United States, we can distinguish nine distinctive architectural styles of the 19th century, presented in order of appearance:
Italian Victorian Style (1840–1890)
It was one of the first styles of the Victorian era. It emerged in the 1840s, but its heyday in the East of America came in the 1860s and 1870s. Architects design Victorian Italian-style houses inspired by large villas in northern Italy. The main feature of this style is the relatively rectangular plan formed by the combination, often asymmetrical, of rectangles of different sizes. Unlike most other Victorian styles, Italian roofs are not sloping and usually consist of a square tower typical of Tuscan houses. The roof supports are heavy and often feature finely decorated carvings. The windows also have heavy frames that are also highly decorated.
Neo-Gothic or Victorian Renaissance Gothic (1840–1940)
Around the same time that the Italianate style appeared, the Neo-Gothic style also appeared, an attempt to adjust the decoration and architecture of Europe's medieval castles and churches. The main feature of these structures is the height and slope of the roof, which ends with well-crafted edge boards with decorative carvings.
The windows of neo-Gothic houses are characterized by ending in a point (pointed windows) and the facade often presents vertical elements, rather than horizontal, as can be seen in the previous building, which is also a worthy representative of the university of the neo-Gothic movement. The building is nicknamed the 'Learning Church' and is the main structure of the University of Pittsburgh.
Victorian Style of the Second Empire or Napoleon III Style (1855–1885)
Houses like Heck-Andrews in North Carolina pictured above are a perfect example of the Second Empire style. This architectural movement was born in France under the mandate of emperor Napoleon III. The Second Empire style buildings are characterized by symmetry and have a small, usually square, tower located in the center.
In most cases, the tower also includes a large clock and a convex mansard roof with a railing. The ceilings of other floors are also often steep ceilings and in this case are enhanced by high-tilt recessed ceilings.
Victorian Stick, Stick or Eastlake Style (1860–1890)
This style is the middle between the Gothic Revival and the Queen Anne style (below) that became popular in the second half of the 19th century in the United States. The most striking feature of this style, and also the one that gives it its name, is the addition of wooden planks with a vertical, horizontal or oblique orientation to the exterior facade as a decoration. Additionally, additional decorations are often added to the highest part of the facade. Stick style homes are also characterized by having a large balcony or patio hanging on the second floor. They are also often called Eastlake houses because of their resemblance to the decorated interior of a famous British designer named Charles Eastlake.
Popular or Folk Victorian Victorian Style (1870–1910)
As the name suggests, this is the style of Victorian homes built by low-middle-class families who want to live in homes that are stylized like those of the great lords, but obviously can't afford the services of a professional architect or elaborate decorative work. characteristic of other Victorian styles. The result is the most popular Victorian style in the United States, which has a blend of elements of all other styles, but with a simpler form and smaller size. These style homes, for example, can combine neo-Gothic sloping roofs with Eastlake facades and Queen Anne's interiors.
Victorian Richardsonian Romanesque style (1880–1900)
The famous American architect Henry Hobson Richardson, the second American to study at the prestigious School of Fine Arts in Paris, was the main proponent of the Victorian Romanesque style. Richardson adopted his architectural style as Romanesque architecture of southern France in the 11th and 12th centuries, characterized by the use of stone as a building material and giving way to tufted walls, heavy domes and sturdy, clean construction. The presence of multiple mansard roofs and complex multi-storey sloping roofs has also been noted.
Victorian shingle style (1880–1900)
In terms of style, the use of decorations typical of the rest of the Victorian style has been reduced. It represents a return to the use of smooth walls clad in wood tiles (the famous shingles that gave this style its name) which were popular during colonial times. They are also characterized by the use of large pedestals in both facades and side faces, and with sloping ceilings.
Queen Anne or Queen Anne Victorian Style (1880–1910)
This style dominated North American home architecture during the last two decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It's a more extravagant architectural style than others and is considered by most to be the quintessential Victorian style. Queen Anne or Reina Ana style homes are easy to spot. They are most splendidly decorated after neo-Gothic styles, they often have many verandas and balconies with carved columns. In addition, it is common to see cylindrical towers and towers with large windows, often covered with decorative stained glass.
In addition to these elements, Queen Anne's houses can also include all kinds of decorations on the horizontal bar, exterior walls, arches and even on the ceiling through the use of tiles of different shades to form patterns.
Neo Colonial or Victorian Colonial Renaissance (1890–1900)
This style marks the end of the Victorian era in American architecture. It is still considered Victorian due to the period in which it was born, but this style is markedly different from previous styles, especially from the Gothic Revival and Queen Anne styles. back to the architecture of the colonial period, with simpler structures, neater lines and generally more symmetrical buildings. It maintains some elements such as high ceilings, attics and, in the case of the house in the photo, the large balcony on the second floor. Inside, however, neocolonial style houses maintain the Victorian tradition typical of other late 19th century homes.
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