Tudor Revival Architecture

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES of AMERICA
Tudor Revival (1910-1940)

INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD STYLES: During the late 1800s, European-trained architects designed highstyle period houses for the wealthy. Each period style identifies specifically with an architecture of an earlier period and place: either early American or European precedents. Several popular period styles are included on these web sites, though other, less common period styles also appeared. During this time (mostly between 1900 and 1929), accuracy of styles became important once again, unlike Queen Anne style, which borrowed from a variety of sources. Most Important, period styles look to the past for inspiration. The trend toward period architecture gained momentum from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the Columbian Exposition, where historical interpretations of European styles were encouraged. Simultaneous to the rise of period-style architecture, the modern era saw its beginnings with architects who were instead looking to the future, not the past, with more progressive, modernist styles. Thus defines the eclectic movement of the early 20th century, which consisted of a simultaneous and perhaps competing interest in both modern and historic architectural traditions.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND FEATURES: Tudor revival became especially popular with 1920s suburban homes, loosely based on late medieval prototypes. Many are identified with false (ornamental) half-timbering, a medieval English building tradition, often with stucco or masonry veneered walls, steeply pitched roof, cross-gabled plans. A varient of this is sometimes referred to as the picturesque cottage or English cottage, which typically includes a picturesque (asymmetrical) floor plan but without the half timbering.