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Greek Revival on Georgian form

Elements = Greek Revival

When this house was built in 1856, five styles were concurrently popular: Georgian, Neo-Classical, Greek Revival, Regency and Gothic Revival. Mixing of these distinct styles in a single house was commonplace, and this house is a perfect example. The building form with its parapet end walls, paired double chimneys, three bay asymmetrical facade and pronounced drip hoods above the openings is a Georgian type typical of many found in the Middle US colonies/states (e.g. Virginia). While on the facade, tall 6/6 double hung windows, a recessed entry with pilasters rising to a dentiled entablature which extends over door and sidelights supporting a rectangular paned transom, and finally the stone pilasters added to the classical design of the hood molds, all bespeak Greek Revival. In this case, it is the elements rather than the form which produce a fine Greek Revival presentation. Interestingly, a slightly later rear addition, with the exception of its end parapet wall, is completely of the Regency style.

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Temple Form

Temple Form

The Greek Revival temple form was a far more understated expression than its monumental sister. Unfortunately, due to its elegantly unadorned lines, the form has often been the subject of period renovations (see image below). A Temple presents a gable end to the road as its front facade. This facade is normally simple; in this ca. 1840 example pierced only by an asymmetrically placed entry door bracketed by pilasters supporting a dentiled entablature, a single double hung 12/12 window which is capped by a classically clean lintel and two small windows tucked high up in the gable. As is typical in the temple form, the sidewalls hold the majority of the windows. The broad, undecorated eave molding wraps the gable end with returns that, combined with the raking eave molding, suggest a pediment. Originally, the facade likely faced a street or laneway that has since been removed.

Reno'd Temple

 

 

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Winged Greek Revival Temple Form

Winged Temple

For those who wished to build in the ‘latest’ style but lived in a conservative community, the Temple form could be embraced. If the lot size allowed, the front facing gable of this form lent itself to wings on the sidewalls. In this ca. 1830 example, the asymmetrical centre massing with its strong entry, limestone lintels & watertable combined with the simple entablature is definitively a Greek Revival design. Are the wings original? Possibly… since, with the exception of the Gothic Revival detailing on the verandahs, the overall composition is stylistically apropos, the main elements consistent while the brick field is continuous, clean & uniform. Imagine these wings with verandahs detailed with a simple entablature echoing that on the eaves supported by correctly scaled classical columns to envision a complete Greek Revival Winged Temple statement.

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Abacus
Arch
Arch, Pointed
Arch, Segmental
Arch, Semi-circular
Bargeboard
Belvedere
Board &amp; Batten
Bracket
Brick
Brick, Bond
Brick, Common Bond
Brick, Course
Brick, English Bond
Brick, Flemish Bond
Brick, Header/Stretcher
Brick, Queen Closer
Brick, Running Bond
Brick, Structural
Brick, Wythe
Building Form
Bungalow
Carport
Cladding
Clapboard
Classical Orders
Clerestory
Column
Column, Composite
Column, Corinthian
Column, Doric
Column, Ionic
Column, Solomonic
Column, Tuscan
Cornice
Cornice, Eave
Cornice, Raking
Cupola
Dentil
Door, 6 Panel
Door, French
Door, Garden
Door, Patio
Door, Plank
Dormer
Dormer, Arched-top
Dormer, Eyebrow
Dormer, Gabled
Dormer, Hipped
Dormer, Pedimented
Dormer, Recessed
Dormer, Shed
Dormer, Wall
Eave
Eave, Fascia
Eave, Soffit
Elevation
Entablature
Entablature, Classical
Entablature, Composite
Entablature, Corinthian
Entablature, Doric
Entablature, Ionic
Entablature, Tuscan
Facade
Facade Bay
Facade, 2 Bay (2 Ranked)
Facade, 3 Bay (3 Ranked)
Facade, 4 Bay (4 Ranked)
Facade, 5 Bay (5 Ranked)
Facade, Asymmetrical
Facade, Multiple Bay (6+ Ranked)
Facade, Symmetrical
Facade, X/Y Bay (e.g. 3/5)
Flushboard
Foursquare (American)
Framing
Framing, Balloon
Framing, Brace
Framing, Platform
Framing, Timber
Frontispiece
Gable
Glass
Glass, Crown
Glass, Cylinder
Glass, Drawn
Glass, Float
Glass, Stained
Half Timber
Lime Rendering
Lintel
Lumber
Lumber, Dimensional
Lumber, Rough Sawn
Modillion
Molding
Molding, Hood
Mortar Rendering
Mullion
Muntin
Nail
Nail, Hand-forged
Nail, Machine Cut
Nail, Wire
Pattress Plate
Pediment
Pediment, Broken
Pediment, Open
Pediment, Segmental
Pilaster
Porch
Portico
Portico, Flying
Quoin
Rafter
Rafter, Extended
Rafter, Overhanging
Romantic
Roof
Roof, Clipped Gable
Roof, Cross Gable
Roof, Cross-hipped
Roof, Eichler
Roof, Flat
Roof, Gabled
Roof, Gambrel
Roof, High Pitch
Roof, Hipped
Roof, Low Pitch
Roof, Mansard
Roof, Medium Pitch
Roof, Pitch
Roof, Truss
Shake, Cedar
Shingle
Shingle, Asphalt
Shingle, Cedar
Shingle, Slate
Stone, Ashlar
Stone, Rubble
Stone, Rusticated
Stucco
Transom
Usonian
Veneer
Veneer, Brick
Veneer, Stone
Verandah
Vernacular
Victorian
Voussoir
Water Table
Window
Window, 1 over 1
Window, 12 over 12
Window, 12 over 8
Window, 2 over 2
Window, 6 over 6
Window, 8 over 8
Window, Bay
Window, Casement
Window, Clerestory
Window, Dormer
Window, Double-hung
Window, Fanlight
Window, Leaded
Window, Oriel
Window, Paired
Window, Palladian
Window, Picture
Window, Porthole
Window, Ribbon
Window, Sidelight
Window, Single-hung
Window, Transom