The Greek Revival style of home gained in popularity during the 1800s. From the early 1800s, to the mid 1800s, this architectural style captured the heart of Americans all over. Where did the Greek Revival style come from?
It has been said that the architectural style known as Greek Revival stemmed from buildings in Philadelphia during the 1820s. Soon thereafter, Greek Revival became associated with government, structure and democracy.
Shortly after becoming popular public buildings, the Greek Revival style spread through the land and thus a new wave of private residential homes was born. Of course, with different climate variations came different adaptations of the Greek Revival style. In Southern areas, Greek homes were adorned with either a portico or a piazza (styles of porches.) A piazza (or portico) is a porch adorned with large columns. Meanwhile, in the cooler climate of the Northern half of the United States, smaller pilasters were used. Pilasters were similar to the large columns, except they were built into the side of the building, only protruding slightly outward from the facade of the home.
Of course, not everyone could afford to have lavishly decorated Greek style homes. Soon after the spread of the idea, many more modest versions of the Greek Revival style of home popped up. It should also be noted that no matter what class of society, rich or poor, the family was part of, the homes were always painted white.
The general characteristics of the Greek Revival is fairly simple. These homes employ the use of a symmetrical shape – almost similar to that of the Colonial, in which all windows are symmetrical to each other. Many Americans even converted their Colonial style homes into Greeks by adding pillars and pilasters, columns and so forth; however this was not a ‘true’ Greek Revival home. They also make use of a larger than average porch, adorned with columns and cornices, all of which were extremely ornate. In Northern homes, columns may be replaced by pilasters; but in some cases – many homes used both pilasters and columns.
The entrance to the typical Greek Revival was to the far side of the facade of the home, either left or right. Through the front door would be a long foyer (or hallway,) that connected to a row of rooms on one side. (This is also the reason that a converted Colonial is not the same as a Greek, because the Colonial home would have the door in the center of the front of the home.)
While the original style of the Greek Revival has died down, certain aspects have been preserved in other homes. Columns and pilasters are especially popular in homes that are considered to be Neo-Eclectic (meaning they incorporate a variety of styles into a single home; for example, a colonial with greek columns.)
Sources:
Wikipedia; “Pilaster”
About.com; “1825-1860: Greek Revival”
Old House Web; ” Greek Revival, 1820-1850
