How and where did different architectural styles develop?

“An engaging historical account and an attractive, practical resource.” —Booklist Colonial, Neoclassical, Queen Anne, Craftsman—what distinguishes one architectural style from another? This unique book will allow readers to recognize the architectural features and style of virtually any house they encounter. Here, architect John Milnes Baker explains the historical, cultural, and technical influences that shaped each of these styles and many more. Organized in periods, from Early Colonial (1600–1715) to the Modern Movement (1920–60) and beyond, this tour of America’s varied residential architecture is rendered in elevation drawings that precisely illustrate the key characteristics of each style. Nearly 25 years since the original publication of American House Styles, this updated edition includes a new preface and house styles from the mid-1990s to the present—from the rise and fall of the McMansion to energy-efficient, regionally influenced homes. The illustrations, now in color, are more delightful than ever in a new, larger format. This a must-have volume for anyone interested in architecture or adding a bit of style to their home.

Historic preservation, which started as a grassroots movement, now represents the cutting edge in a cultural revolution focused on “green” architecture and sustainability. This is the only book to cover the gamut of preservation issues in layman’s language: the philosophy and history of the movement, the role of government, the documentation and designation of historic properties, sensitive architectural designs and planning, preservation technology, and heritage tourism, plus a survey of architectural styles. It is an ideal introduction to the field for students, historians, preservationists, property owners, local officials, and community leaders. Updated throughout, this revised edition addresses new subjects, including heritage tourism and partnering with the environmental community.

The late nineteenth century, known commonly as the "Gilded Age," produced some of the most beautiful yet controversial architecture in America's history. The great influencers of the period, including Richard Upjohn, Henry Hobson Richardson, and Charles McKim, each spread the gospel of his own architectural style. The result was an eclectic mix of styles that some detested but that others embraced. Caught in the struggle to find an architecture America could claim as its own, Hartford, Connecticut architect William Brocklesby carved out his own stylistic path. In an age when the taste for ostentation and pretension was adopted by many, William Brocklesby produced some of the most dignified and beautiful architecture in the Connecticut Valley. His churches, libraries, and theaters remain as artistic landmarks throughout western New England, and his work at colleges from Hartford to Amherst, Massachusetts make for some of the most picturesque college campuses in America. This book serves as a companion to the author's earlier book, Asher Benjamin, American Architect, Author, Artist. Taken together, the two books provide a view of developments in American architecture from 1790 to 1910. The Architecture of William C. Brocklesby Hailing from Hartford, Connecticut, architect William C. Brocklesby (1847-1910) spent his career designing beautiful yet dignified churches, libraries, and public buildings throughout the Connecticut River Valley and western New England. Working in an age when ostentation was the rule rather than the exception, Brocklesby maintained a restrained hand in the application of ornament. His design ofForbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts stands out as a monument to his ability as a design architect. In addition, William Brocklesby was among a handful of nineteenth century architects who made the Connecticut River Valley the birthplace of the prototypical American college campus. Working largely within the vision of the famed American landscape architects Andrew Jackson Downing and Frederick Law Olmstead, Brocklesby and others built campuses that were meant to mimic the traditional New England village. “Through the designs of the college buildings by Peabody and Stearns and William Brocklesby, Smith College's architectural history traces the development of late nineteenth-century styles.” - National Register of Historic Places Inventory

The first and only full-scale technical and stylistic analysis of 200 years of architectural evolution in northern New England

« Invitation to Vernacular Architecture: A Guide to the Study of Ordinary Buildings and Landscapes is a manual for exploring and interpreting vernacular architecture, the common buildings of particular regions and time periods. Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley provide a comprehensive introduction to the field. » « Rich with illustrations and written in a clear and jargon-free style, Invitation to Vernacular Architecture is an ideal text for courses in architecture, material culture studies, historic preservation, American studies, and history, and a useful guide for anyone interested in the built environment. »--

Explores the factors and influences that have enriched American architecture throughout its development from colonial times to the present, covering houses, apartments, factories, and office buildings and the architects who designed them.