What makes a building Greek Revival?
What makes a building Greek Revival?
Defining characteristics of Greek Revival homes include a symmetrical shape, pilasters, columns, a porch entry, a window in the pediment, and plain or highly decorated cornices and friezes. Chimneys were placed as far back as possible to make the home look more like a Greek temple.
What is Greek Revival design?
Greek Revival is a style of architecture inspired by the symmetry, proportion, simplicity, and elegance of the ancient Greek temples of 5th century B.C. In the United States, Greek Revival reached peak popularity from 1825 to 1860, which was the start of the Civil War.
What was the purpose of Greek Revival architecture?
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. It revived the style of ancient Greek architecture, in particular the Greek temple, with varying degrees of thoroughness and consistency.
What is a Greek Revival mansion?
Drawing inspiration from ancient Greece, the style found popularity during the mid-1800s. Greek Revival homes often feature columns or pilasters, symmetrical proportions, and white-painted exteriors.
What are the characteristics of a Greek Revival house?
Characteristics. Homes in the Greek Revival style were usually painted white to resemble the white marble of impressive and costly public buildings. The details were bold, but with simple moldings. Heavy cornices, gables with pediments, and unadorned friezes were typical.
What is the Greek Revival period?
The Greek Revival style, popular in American during the 1830s through to the 1860s, was inspired by the classical Greek temple. During this time, Americans were fascinated by all things classical, Roman and Greek.
What materials are used in Greek Revival architecture?
Materials. Stucco and wood, and occasionally stone, are the essential building materials of the Greek Revival style. Intended to resemble stone or marble temples the buildings were usually painted white or enhanced with a faux finish such as the Lee Mansion at Arlington National Cemetery.
Why did Greek Revival become popular?
The Greek Revival style, popular in American during the 1830s through to the 1860s, was inspired by the classical Greek temple. Many viewed their country as the natural heirs to the ancient Greeks, who invented democracy and it became very popular to be associated with ancient Greek concepts.
What are the elements of the Greek Revival style?
Style elements of Greek Revival include: Many buildings were painted white, in a mistaken attempt to replicate the clean white marble of ancient structures that had in fact once been painted in colors. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Are there square columns in the Greek Revival style?
Although classical columns are round, by definition, the Greek Revival style also used square or even octagonal columns. The columns were designed without bases as in the Greek style or with bases as in a Roman adaptation.
What makes a Greek Revival house stand out?
One of the most apparent characteristics of a Greek Revival property is the columns. This is a typical architectural feature that makes properties built in this style stand out from other architectural styles, even those with which the style shares some similar characteristics. The columns or pilasters appear at the front of the home.
Who was the founder of the Greek Revival?
While Stuart died in 1788 before it became a full-blown trend in England and Europe in the 1820s and 30s, he is widely credited with helping to spread the Greek Revival style outside of its country of origin. But it was in America that Greek Revival would fully bloom.