Architecture Assignment
Maymont Mansion
The Victorian Romanesque style combines both Roman and Byzantine architecture. These original styles are from the 10th and 11th century and were mainly used for castles and churches in Europe. These buildings are for the most part still around today because of the heavy and very durable stone used during construction. The Romanesque style began in the United States in the mid to late 18th century (1870-1890).[1] It was usually used for public buildings because of the important appearance associated with the architecture, but became popular for residential houses towards the end of the style period. Buildings designed in the Romanesque style are usually very visually heavy, with a lot of stone work like the original Roman and Byzantine buildings. Brickwork and terra cotta is used to break up the stone and to create a more visually appealing design. Using a lot of stone caused them to be more expensive than other Victorian styles, which were made of wood,[2] because of this there are far fewer Romanesque buildings. This style is known for it’s use of rounded arches as well; these arches are usually finished off with supporting columns that are smooth and polished. These columns are typically shorter compared to multistory columns used in styles like Neoclassical or Federal and include a foliated capital.
Towers and projecting gabled pavilions are very common with the style. Towers are normally complete with a conical roof and often include gabled dormers. Details like corbel tables and coursed ashlars add a decorative element to the top of the towers. Transom windows are used throughout these buildings. The windows are not just used in the entry way, and are designed in a “ribbon-like” style,[3] which means they are repeated one after another above windows. Windows of varied sizes are used throughout the buildings. Some windows are smaller depending on the placement on the building. Very small windows are used for the arcaded attic story, which is very distinct and visually separates the top story of the building from the outside.
Towers and projecting gabled pavilions are very common with the style. Towers are normally complete with a conical roof and often include gabled dormers. Details like corbel tables and coursed ashlars add a decorative element to the top of the towers. Transom windows are used throughout these buildings. The windows are not just used in the entry way, and are designed in a “ribbon-like” style,[3] which means they are repeated one after another above windows. Windows of varied sizes are used throughout the buildings. Some windows are smaller depending on the placement on the building. Very small windows are used for the arcaded attic story, which is very distinct and visually separates the top story of the building from the outside.
The mansion at Maymont park in Richmond is one of very few intact gilded age estates in the country. It was left to the city of Richmond once the Dooley family that owned the land passed away. James and Sallie Dooley had no children and therefore no one to inherit the property, so they graciously bequeathed the estate to the city. Because of this, the property has managed to remain intact and almost in the same condition it was in during the Dooley’s residence. The house was built by architect Edgerton Stewart Rogers[4] and was given direction by Sallie Dooley. The exceptionally grand house was completed in 1893[5], the height of the gilded age. The house is built using both Romanesque and Queen Anne styles but the house possesses far more Romanesque features.
The mansion is made of heavy stone and gives the house a sense of importance and that it will last through the ages, like the castles from 10th and 11th century Europe. The formal entrance of the house, where carriages would pull up, has a detail that is very common of the Romanesque style. It has a semi-circular arch with smooth columns supporting it. These columns are a reddish color, which is an element usually seen with the style, as terra cotta was used quite frequently in trim and details. Other details in this color scheme are the columns supporting the roof of the porch, gabled porches are very commonly a part of this style as well. The shape and size of the porch is more fitting with the Queen Anne style but the short columns and their color are more fitting with the Romanesque style.
Right above the entryway, there is a projecting gabled pavilion complete with a massive arched window. This window is one of the few rounded windows on the house, apart from the fan lights that are set in the square tower to the right of the entry way. The square tower is not common with this style but the details around the top, the corbel table, is used quite frequently in Romanesque buildings. The house does include many transom lights, there is a transom light above almost every single window of the house, in the ribbon-like fashion explained previously. The house also includes a gabled dormer, although it is not positioned in the roof of a tower. Directly to the left of the gabled dormer is a large rounded tower, complete with a conical roof. Although the Maymont mansion may not be the ideal Romanesque style house, the architect was able to brilliantly combine Romanesque features along with other popular styles of the time.
The mansion is made of heavy stone and gives the house a sense of importance and that it will last through the ages, like the castles from 10th and 11th century Europe. The formal entrance of the house, where carriages would pull up, has a detail that is very common of the Romanesque style. It has a semi-circular arch with smooth columns supporting it. These columns are a reddish color, which is an element usually seen with the style, as terra cotta was used quite frequently in trim and details. Other details in this color scheme are the columns supporting the roof of the porch, gabled porches are very commonly a part of this style as well. The shape and size of the porch is more fitting with the Queen Anne style but the short columns and their color are more fitting with the Romanesque style.
Right above the entryway, there is a projecting gabled pavilion complete with a massive arched window. This window is one of the few rounded windows on the house, apart from the fan lights that are set in the square tower to the right of the entry way. The square tower is not common with this style but the details around the top, the corbel table, is used quite frequently in Romanesque buildings. The house does include many transom lights, there is a transom light above almost every single window of the house, in the ribbon-like fashion explained previously. The house also includes a gabled dormer, although it is not positioned in the roof of a tower. Directly to the left of the gabled dormer is a large rounded tower, complete with a conical roof. Although the Maymont mansion may not be the ideal Romanesque style house, the architect was able to brilliantly combine Romanesque features along with other popular styles of the time.
The mansion at Maymont park in Richmond is one of very few intact gilded age estates in the country. It was left to the city of Richmond once the Dooley family that owned the land passed away. James and Sallie Dooley had no children and therefore no one to inherit the property, so they graciously bequeathed the estate to the city. Because of this, the property has managed to remain intact and almost in the same condition it was in during the Dooley’s residence. The house was built by architect Edgerton Stewart Rogers[6] and was given direction by Sallie Dooley. The exceptionally grand house was completed in 1893[7], the height of the gilded age. The house is built using both Romanesque and Queen Anne styles but the house possesses far more Romanesque features.
The mansion is made of heavy stone and gives the house a sense of importance and that it will last through the ages, like the castles from 10th and 11th century Europe. The formal entrance of the house, where carriages would pull up, has a detail that is very common of the Romanesque style. It has a semi-circular arch with smooth columns supporting it. These columns are a reddish color, which is an element usually seen with the style, as terra cotta was used quite frequently in trim and details. Other details in this color scheme are the columns supporting the roof of the porch, gabled porches are very commonly a part of this style as well. The shape and size of the porch is more fitting with the Queen Anne style but the short columns and their color are more fitting with the Romanesque style.
Right above the entryway, there is a projecting gabled pavilion complete with a massive arched window. This window is one of the few rounded windows on the house, apart from the fan lights that are set in the square tower to the right of the entry way. The square tower is not common with this style but the details around the top, the corbel table, is used quite frequently in Romanesque buildings. The house does include many transom lights, there is a transom light above almost every single window of the house, in the ribbon-like fashion explained previously. The house also includes a gabled dormer, although it is not positioned in the roof of a tower. Directly to the left of the gabled dormer is a large rounded tower, complete with a conical roof. Although the Maymont mansion may not be the ideal Romanesque style house, the architect was able to brilliantly combine Romanesque features along with other popular styles of the time.
[1] "Maymont Mansion,” accessed September 14, 2015, https://maymont.org/estate/mansion/.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid 47.
[4] “Maymont Mansion,” accessed September 14, 2015, https://maymont.org/estate/mansion/.
[5] Ibid.
[6] John J.-G. Blumenson, Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms, 1600-1945 (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1981), 44-45.
[7] “Romanesque Revival Style 1840-1900,” Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, accessed September 14, 2015, http://www.portal.state.pa.us.
[8] Ibid 47.
[9] “Maymont Mansion,” accessed September 14, 2015, https://maymont.org/estate/mansion/.
[10] Ibid.
The mansion is made of heavy stone and gives the house a sense of importance and that it will last through the ages, like the castles from 10th and 11th century Europe. The formal entrance of the house, where carriages would pull up, has a detail that is very common of the Romanesque style. It has a semi-circular arch with smooth columns supporting it. These columns are a reddish color, which is an element usually seen with the style, as terra cotta was used quite frequently in trim and details. Other details in this color scheme are the columns supporting the roof of the porch, gabled porches are very commonly a part of this style as well. The shape and size of the porch is more fitting with the Queen Anne style but the short columns and their color are more fitting with the Romanesque style.
Right above the entryway, there is a projecting gabled pavilion complete with a massive arched window. This window is one of the few rounded windows on the house, apart from the fan lights that are set in the square tower to the right of the entry way. The square tower is not common with this style but the details around the top, the corbel table, is used quite frequently in Romanesque buildings. The house does include many transom lights, there is a transom light above almost every single window of the house, in the ribbon-like fashion explained previously. The house also includes a gabled dormer, although it is not positioned in the roof of a tower. Directly to the left of the gabled dormer is a large rounded tower, complete with a conical roof. Although the Maymont mansion may not be the ideal Romanesque style house, the architect was able to brilliantly combine Romanesque features along with other popular styles of the time.
[1] "Maymont Mansion,” accessed September 14, 2015, https://maymont.org/estate/mansion/.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid 47.
[4] “Maymont Mansion,” accessed September 14, 2015, https://maymont.org/estate/mansion/.
[5] Ibid.
[6] John J.-G. Blumenson, Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms, 1600-1945 (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1981), 44-45.
[7] “Romanesque Revival Style 1840-1900,” Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, accessed September 14, 2015, http://www.portal.state.pa.us.
[8] Ibid 47.
[9] “Maymont Mansion,” accessed September 14, 2015, https://maymont.org/estate/mansion/.
[10] Ibid.