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Architecture + Design
An update of a legendary book provides encyclopedic architectural knowledge of the city’s row houses
By Stefanie Waldek
In 1972, 24-year-old writer and architectural historian Charles Lockwood published what would become his seminal work, Bricks and Brownstone: The New York Row House 1783–1929, the first and, to this day, only encyclopedic book dedicated to New York City’s most famous type of residential dwelling. The tome’s debut coincided with the rise in interest in architectural preservation—the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission was established just seven years prior, in 1965, and the New York Landmarks Conservancy followed in 1971—as the city grappled with rapid growth. Ultimately, the book inspired renewed interest in the historic row houses across Manhattan and Brooklyn, and even served as reference material for many row houses’ renovations. In 2003, a revised and expanded version of the book was published by Rizzoli, and today Bricks & Brownstone is getting a third renovation. Writer Patrick W. Ciccone and photographer Dylan Chandler have updated the book with even more new research and new images, with the new edition being released this month ($85, Rizzoli). Here, get a sneak peek of 10 different architectural styles of New York row houses as discussed in the book.
Federal Style
In the decades after the Revolutionary War, New York experienced a population (and economic) boom, which led to the building of numerous row homes. Between the 1780s and 1830s, the red-brick Federal Style dominated the streets—it was a look greatly inspired by the English Georgian style, with nods to the classical tradition. “The pervasive British influence in American architecture in the late 18th and early 19th centuries confirmed that the Revolutionary War had been a political, not cultural, revolution,” writes Ciccone.
Greek Revival
Between 1830 and 1850, Greek Revival architecture overtook the Federal style, not just in New York, but across the United States. For row houses specifically, the movement was quite subtle—façades were still made of red brick, but Ionic and Doric columns adorned doorways, while ornamental work featured Greek motifs like the acanthus leaf.
Gothic Revival
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While local brownstone was frequently used in New York construction before the 1850s—it was the material of choice for many churches, like the Gothic Revival Trinity Church, completed in 1846—it soon made the jump to residential dwellings. But given the cramped streets, true Gothic Revival style never took hold with the row houses. Instead, details were added through ironwork in fences, balconies, and stoop railings.
Italianate
Architects quickly moved from Gothic Revival to the Italianate mode between the 1850s and 1870s, taking inspiration from Italian palazzi while still using local brownstone. These façades featured curved lines and delicate ornamentation to produce an elegant effect.
Second Empire
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During the same time period, some Italianate row houses began to incorporate the Second Empire style into their architecture—see the mansard roofs here. “The Second Empire style did not reach American architects directly from Paris but apparently came indirectly from the Parisian-inspired hotels built in London in the mid-1850s,” writes Ciccone.
Neo-Grec
By the 1870s, the Italianate style was fading in favor of the Neo-Grec style, a simpler, less ornamental mode that was more rectangular in nature than the rounded forms found in Italianate row homes—but the use of brownstone still prevailed.
Queen Anne
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For just a short decade, Queen Anne façades overtook the streets. Rather than being a formal style in its own, Queen Anne served more as a catchall phrase for row houses that had more individuality and ornamentalism in their design—think irregular plans, pitched-gable rooflines, and decorative reliefs. While brownstone was still used, brick and terra-cotta were added to the mix, as was wood trim.
Romanesque Revival
Rising in popularity at the same time as the Queen Anne style, Romanesque Revival row houses also featured asymmetrical plans and more individualistic façades with varied materials (limestone and granite made appearances here) and decoration. But Romanesque Revival architecture feels heavier than Queen Anne, thanks to features like large grand arches around doorways and windows.
Renaissance Revival
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From the 1880s through the 1890s, New York architects began turning to the optimism of the Renaissance for inspiration, building row homes that ranged from the academically accurate to the more whimsical in nature. “Though grouped under the general label of the Renaissance Revival style, these houses took inspiration and much form and ornament from many sources—Roman, the Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, French Renaissance, French classic, and German Renaissance, among others,” writes Ciccone. “The Renaissance Revival dwelling relied upon applied detail for its stylistic impact, with the most popular motifs being wreaths, baskets of fruit, garlands of flowers and leaves tied with ribbons at the ends, and numerous foliate forms.”
Colonial Revival
By the 1890s into the first two decades of the 20th century, architects were revisiting the earlier Federal style in what would be dubbed the Colonial Revival (a misnomer, since the Federal style postdated American independence), in part inspired by the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia. As such, brick took priority over brownstone, limestone, and granite on façades. After the turn of the 20th century, row homes began to fade in popularity, as apartment buildings were on the rise.
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© Bricks & Brownstone: The New York Row House by Charles Lockwood and Patrick W. Ciccone, Rizzoli New York, 2019.
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Bricks and Brownstone: The New York Row House 1783–1929
The article discusses the architectural styles of New York row houses as presented in the book "Bricks and Brownstone: The New York Row House 1783–1929" by Charles Lockwood and Patrick W. Ciccone. The book provides encyclopedic architectural knowledge of New York City's row houses, covering various styles from the Federal Style to the Colonial Revival. Each architectural style is described in detail, highlighting the historical and stylistic influences that shaped the development of New York's iconic row houses.
Now, let's delve into the specific architectural styles discussed in the article and explore their characteristics.
Federal Style
The Federal Style dominated New York's streets between the 1780s and 1830s, characterized by red-brick facades inspired by the English Georgian style .
Greek Revival
Between 1830 and 1850, the Greek Revival architecture became prominent, featuring red-brick facades with Ionic and Doric columns and ornamental work with Greek motifs.
Gothic Revival
The Gothic Revival style, influenced by local brownstone, was introduced to residential dwellings, with details added through ironwork in fences, balconies, and stoop railings.
Italianate
Architects transitioned to the Italianate mode between the 1850s and 1870s, drawing inspiration from Italian palazzi and incorporating curved lines and delicate ornamentation.
Second Empire
During the same period, Italianate row houses began to incorporate the Second Empire style, characterized by mansard roofs.
Neo-Grec
By the 1870s, the Italianate style gave way to the Neo-Grec style, featuring simpler and less ornamental designs with prevailing use of brownstone.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne facades briefly overtook the streets, characterized by individuality, irregular plans, pitched-gable rooflines, and decorative reliefs, with the addition of brick, terra-cotta, and wood trim.
Romanesque Revival
Rising in popularity alongside the Queen Anne style, Romanesque Revival row houses featured asymmetrical plans, varied materials, and heavier architectural features such as large grand arches.
Renaissance Revival
From the 1880s through the 1890s, New York architects drew inspiration from the Renaissance, incorporating various motifs and forms from Roman, Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, and other sources into row house designs.
Colonial Revival
By the 1890s and into the early 20th century, architects revisited the earlier Federal style in what would be dubbed the Colonial Revival, prioritizing brick over brownstone, limestone, and granite on facades.
The book "Bricks and Brownstone: The New York Row House 1783–1929" provides a comprehensive exploration of these architectural styles, offering valuable insights into the historical and cultural influences that shaped New York City's iconic row houses.
I hope this overview provides a clear understanding of the architectural concepts discussed in the article. If you have further questions or would like to explore any specific aspect in more detail, feel free to ask!