Hello everyone! For this weeks post we will be discussing Medieval Architecture during the 19th century in the United States. It was during the mid 19th century when American architecture took a tun towards the Medieval. This style of architecture is similar to that of a European Christian Church. Families who were building homes throughout the United States wanted their homes to resemble the ideals and decorations of a Christian Church.

Architect Andrew Jackson Downing created “Design II, Cottage Residences”, c. 1842. This home design emulated the didactic that all middle class, white, Christian families wanted to portray. The characteristics in this design that are similar to the Medieval include; pitched roofs, gambles, extended chimneys and wooden tracery ornamentation.

This design was one of twenty-six, that all had characteristics of the Medieval. The building itself was constructed out of wood, this was done as a cost saving effect. Traditionally, Medieval style buildings were constructed out of stone and laid by hand. The stone effect is still present on this home design, and was achieved with paint. The wooden tracery along the home were also created with modern tools, such as the jig saw. This made manufacturing the pieces required to put together the home easier and less costly. The resources and accessibility allowed middle-class Americans to build homes that represented a good Christian family.