AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE
(Early history – 1930)
THE FIVE PHASES OF U.S. ARCHITECTURE: 1) Indigenous Phase (Circa 500 B.C. to A.D. 16th century) 2) Colonial Phase (1607- 1780) 3) Post Colonial Phase (1790-1820) 4) First Eclectic Phase (1820-1860) 5) Second Eclectic Phase (1860-1930) 1. INDIGENOUS PHASE (Circa 500 B.C. to A.D. 16th cent.) 1) It is characterized by the use of materials like bricks, stone, rubble, and sand 2) Its most characteristic feature is the truncated pyramid. 3) Earliest settlement were roofed dugouts, pallisaded huts, wigwams, or garrisoned forts surrounding thatched half-timbered cottages.

2. COLONIAL PHASE (1607- 1780)
-begins with the colonization of the North American continent. Settlers from various European countries brought with them the building techniques and prevailing forms of their respective homelands. Colonial architecture was subsequently adapted to the topography and climate of the chosen site, the availability of building materials, the dearth of trained builders and artisans, and the general poverty of the settlers.
1.Spanish Influence
2. English Influence(Georgian/ classical/ Palladian phase)
Georgian architecture- the prevailing style of the 18thcent. In Great Britain and the north American colonies, so named after George I, II George and George III. Derived from classical, renaissance, and baroque forms.

3. POST COLONIAL PHASE (1790-1820)
-architecture moved away from the English Georgian idiom and Neo-classical Elements were introduced
Classic Revival Style
Architectural Characteristics. * A more monumental type of state capitol was developed. Ex. a. Capitol, Washington D.C. - by William Thornton, assistedby Stephen Hallet and Benjamin Latrobe. b. Capitol, Richmond, Virginia- by Thomas Jefferson
-The early classical revival followed the Roman tradition rather than the Greek.
- By 1830, Greek details reigned supreme
Architects who contributed to the classical revival style in the U.S. * Major Charles Pierre L’Enfant- the city planner for Washington D.C. and the architect of the U.S. Federal hall, Washington D.C. * William Thornton- an English architect, designer of the U.S. Capitol * Benjamin H. Latrobe- One of the first U.S. architects. He received his training in England and worked in the Greek idiom. * Robert Mills- Famous as a designer of churches and as the architects of the Washington monuments in Washington D.C. and Baltimore; an architect for the U.S. government and is responsible for many national public buildings. * William Strickland -Architect for many important buildings (ex. Philadelphia exchange) * James Hoban - an Irish architect; designer of the state capitol in Columbia and the white house in Washington D.C
ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES
1. The White House, Washington D.C. - by James; Hoban porticoes by Latrobe; later additions by McKim, Mead and White; it is in the English Palladian style.
2. Independence Hall, Philadelphia- by Andrew Hamilton
3. MONTECILLO, Virginia - by Thomas Jefferson, his own house; elegant example of a Neo Classical style
4. U.S. CAPITOL, Washington D.C.
- By William Thornton; rebuilt by Benjamin Latrobe after the war; between 1851 and 1867, addition were made by Thomas Ustick Walter who designed the flanking wings and the great dome over the central rotunda

4. FIRST ECLECTIC PERIOD (1820-1860) * Greek style was predominant * balloon-frame construction was introduced * Development in the use of cast iron as building material.
Balloon framing – a system of framing a wooden building where wall vertical structural elements of the exterior bearing walls and partitions consist of single studs which extend the full height of the frame, from the top oft the soleplate to the roof plate; all floor joists are fastened by nails to studs.

5. SECOND ECLECTIC PERIOD (1860-1930) * Two Main Streams
1. Gothic revival but initiated by Romanesque Revival
2. Influenced by the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Paris * French renaissance, Ancient Roman &Greek and late Gothic *
Architectural examples of GOTHIC REVIVAL
1. Christ Church, Washington D.C. - by Latrobe
2. Trinity Church, New York- by Richard Upjohn
3. St. Patrick’s cathedral- by James Renwick

* The BEAUX ARTS STYLE heavily influenced US architecture in the period from 1880 to 1920.
Notable architects: * Richard Morris Hunt- the first important American architect to study in the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris.
Ex. of his works A. Tribune Building,NY B. Admin. Building at Chicago Expo 1893 C. Façade of metropolitan Museum, NY * Henry Hobson Richardson- evolved a highly personal style (Richardsonian Romanesque) freed of historicism that was influential in early Modernism. Ex. of his works: A. Marshall field wholesale warehouse bldg., Chicago - in Romanesque revival style B. Stoughton House, Cambridge - a timber- framed house; an example of the “shingle style” with its walls clad with wood shingles; the plan is loose and foreshadows the “ free plan” which was developed later by Frank Lloyd Wright C. Northeastern Library * Lefarge- he designed the S. John the Divine Cathedral in New York * Daniel Burnham-an architect; a town planner and area planner
Examples of Burnham’s works: * World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893 * plans for the district of Columbia * plan for Chicago * plan for Washington D.C.
MASTERPIECE OF BEAUX ARTS STYLE IN US * GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL,New York City1903

* Structural Achievements:
Elevator
Metal frame construction
Non-load bearing curtain wall * Skyscrapers were introduced * Schools of architecture
- were established in the United States of America (ex. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under W.R. Ware). * Important and Influential Exhibitions
The Centennial Exposition, 1876, Philidelphia
The World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893, Chicago

EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURES A. THE FIRST LEITER BUILDING, Chicago(1879) * By William Le Baron Jenney; a warehouse with brick pillars on its outer walls and wide glass openings similar to “Chicago windows” of later date ; the interior used the cast- iron column which was the standard during the period B. HOME INSURANCE BUILDING, Chicago (1883-1885)- By William Le Baron Jenney
- the first building in which skeleton or steel frame construction was used

C. MONADNOCK BUILDING, Chicago (1891)- By Daniel Burnham and John W. Root; a 16- storey building with external walls made of load bearing masonry, the last of its type

D. RELIANCE BUILDING- ByCharles Atwood & EC Shanklad; 1st glass tower which is 15 storey high

E. WALKER WAREHOUSE, Chicago-By Louis Sullivan

F. WAINRIGHT BUILDING, St Louis, Missouri- Sullivan’s first great skyscraper; a 10 storey steel framed building

G. GUARANTY BUILDING, Buffalo, New York- Represents the climax of Sullivan’s development of tall freestanding office tower; influenced by the Renaissance palazzo; it gives a drama of vertical continuity and human uprightness; the form of the building is a single streometric volume, a vertical shaft, rectangular in plan; subdivided into 3 which are the base ( consists of the ground floor and the mezzanine floor), shaft and attic.

H. PARSON PIRIE- SCOTT DEPARTMENT STORE, Chicago-By Louis Sullivan

I. LARKIN SOAP CO. BUILDING, Buffalo,New York- By Frank Lloyd Wright J. WOOLWORTH BUILDING, New York * By Cass Gilbert; became known as the cathedral of commerce when it opened in 1913 as the headquarters of F.W. Woolworth’s dime store-chain; rises 60 stories above Broadway and Park Palace; a Gothic revival masterpiece

K. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, New York -By Shreve, Lamb and Harmon; rises through 85 storeys