Here Comes Queen Anne
Here Comes Queen Anne
As with so many other aspects of culture, early American architecture borrowed heavily from the styles popular in Europe. As the American economy grew, the desire grew for buildings more intricate than the farmhouses that comprised the bulk of American real estate. In cities and in the infant suburbs, businesses and individuals wanted house plans that were as grand and beautiful as those of Europe.
One of the most profound impacts on American architecture came from the Queen Anne style, which had originated in England in the mid-19th century. The Queen Anne style eventually migrated to New York, and it was the most popular architectural style in America by the turn of the 20th century, after which it began to be outcompeted by the Craftsman style house plans.
Today, Queen Annes are still visible in cities with like San Francisco and Washington, D.C., where Queen Anne-style row houses are the most common form of residence. Although tightly packed, residents of row houses agree that the design of the Queen Anne affords privacy and spaciousness even in the heart of the city. But what makes a Queen Anne a Queen Anne? The style was distinguished by the following:
Asymmetrical Faade
Queen Annes are known for being extraordinarily picturesque, and each is given a unique flavor with a faade that is unpredictable and can appear almost haphazard. Different portions of the faade jut out on different floors, which helps lend each Queen Anne a distinct air of nonconformity.
Towers Galore
Whether they were rounded, square or polygonal, Queen Annes home floor plans often featured at least one prominent tower that reached above the main building. These were as much decorative as they were functional. The room at the top of the tower was often small, and because it was somewhat disconnected from the main house, it was used as a storage space or servants quarters.
No Shortage of Porches
The Victorians must have loved getting a breath of fresh air, because almost no Queen Anne is accessible without passing through a large, often wrap-around, porch. The porch was always present on the front faade, and it may have been found on other sides of the house or even on the second or third floor.
Bay Windows
When the crummy English weather made the porch an undesirable location, the outside was still accessible via large bay windows on the front and rear faade.
Intricate Wall Texture
Following the trend to avoid repetition and uniformity, each individual Queen Anne house will often feature a variety of wall textures, including patterned wood shingles, textured brickwork or terra cotta tiles. These variations helped make each house an original work of art.
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