Colonial Revival

The Fleming House, Denver.

The Fleming House, Denver, 1984.

There are three types of Colonial Revival buildings in Colorado: "historically accurate" reproductions of the 17th century Georgian and Federal style; Colonial or Classical elements applied to basically Victorian or Post-Victorian buildings; and very simple houses with a few Colonial details.  Colonial Revival buildings are usually brick and include residences, churches and hotels.

The First Baptist Church, Denver.

The First Baptist Church, Denver .

 

 

The First Baptist Church in Denver is an example of the first type in that it is a fairly accurate rendition of a Wren inspired New England church.  There are also Federal and Georgian examples of homes scattered around Denver.

The Fleming House in Denver represents the second type.  In this case a classical portico is placed on a somewhat typical late Queen Anne building.  These Neo-Classical elements lead to confusion and the temptation to place these structures in the Classical Revival category.  To avoid this problem, residences with classical elements are considered to be Colonial Revival.

A Colonial Revival style residence in Denver.

A Colonial Revival style residence in Denver.

The third type of Colonial Revival house is the most common.  These are the simple gabled houses with several Colonial elements such as broken pediments, eight-over-eight sash windows, fanlights, and sidelights, and shutters.

Common elements:

  1. broken pediments
  2. 8-over-8 sash windows
  3. portico
  4. fluted columns
  5. Doric columns
  6. Corinthian columns
  7. pediments
  8. fanlight
  9. sidelight
  10. shutters
  11. dormer
  12. eyebrow dormer

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