Prodigy Real Estate - SI NY Real Estate Blog - Architecture

Dutch Colonial Style Home Architecture

The Dutch Colonial Home... A mainstay of the architectural lanscape of Staten Island's more established communities.

As you may know, Henry Hudson explored the eastern shore of the United States in 1609. This exploration led to a settlement being established in 1613, which in turn led to the creation of New Netherland, which included parts of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The primary motive for settling in this area was to trade with the Indians, who inhabited the land. Eventually, more Dutch emigrants settled in the area, along with Huguenots, who were fleeing Europe, and began to build homes for themselves out of stone and wood. The signature style that was used in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and…

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Queen Anne Style Home Architecture - A flair for the dramatic

Queen Anne ruled Great Britain from March 8, 1702 until May 1, 1707. During her reign, art and science progressed. The architect Sir John Vanbrugh, for example, designed many new buildings during her time. By 1870's, the name Queen Anne became a popular name for houses of a certain type of architecture in Britain. By 1880, the name Queen Anne was used to classify houses being built in the United States. None of these three architectural styles, however, have anything to do with one another.

Up until about 1910, Queen Anne-style houses were very popular in the United States. There are several distinguishing features which classify the architectural style. For the most part, Queen Anne-style houses have delicate, turned spindles. Others may just…

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Italianate Style Home Architecture

The Renaissance, which roughly translates to "rebirth", began in Florence, Italy during the fourteenth century.  This movement called for a change in the culture of Florence.  The rebirth took advantage of the art, literature, politics, religion, and science.  By the fifteenth century, the art portion had spread to the city's architecture.  This change in architecture was based mostly on symmetry and spread from Florence, to the rest of Italy, and finally to the rest of Europe.  The Renaissance lasted until the early seventeenth century, which brought again a change in the architecture.

By the nineteenth century, a change needed to be made to the symmetrical buildings populating Europe.  In 1802, the first significant change in architecture was…

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Second Empire Home Architecture

During the early part of the 19th century, France was ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, or Napoleon I.  His empire, which he ruled from 1804-1814, was known as the First French Empire.  During his reign, Napoleon gained the support of his people through means such as his Napoleonic Code, which stated that men could get jobs based on talent, rather than genetics or social class.

Napoleon's popularity resulted in the architectural movement Empire style, which lasted way past his reign, until 1830.In 1848, Napoleon I's nephew, Napoleon III, became the ruler of France.  During his reign, which was known as the Second French Empire, Napoleon III had Paris rebuilt and redesigned.  His style of architecture, which began in 1855, became known as Second Empire. …

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