The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29
BUILDINGS old and NEW
Architecture of the Capital City,
Past and Present
The DAYS of Dormer windows ari1
High Ck;mneys-chanees in The
Popular Taste in che Construction
OF Residenees-srhe Van Ness Man
sion and the ocsaaon House.

Domestic architecture In wasbinv.o,
has undergone many changes since the old
| colonial houses once to1ded It over tho
iHeipiert city. What contrast to te1n-
pare one OF these old residences, such as
the octag9n or Van Ness mansions. to one
of the more modern. sumptuous buildings.
But perhaps the most p.quant feature in
| this contrast, as expressing most the
| change that has taken place In ;he taste
: OF the people, is not the superior size or
gorgeousness OF the up-to-date residence.
but the difference of architectural styles
noted in each.
In the first place, the early mansions and
humber homes OF this city were all built
| in the same style. There was no variety.
The same plain red brick or succeed
| walls, the same modified Queen Anne de-
| tails, the white-columned porch or por-
tico, the fan light over the doorway. the
green blinds. the gabled roof with dormer
! windows. with chimneys rising square and
| plain. prevailed. There was little variety
| in these features. 1t was the old style
| imported from England iato the colonies,
and its employment was a sign of loyalty
Even for decade or two sitter the War
for independence the same style was used
with little OF no variations 1t formed the
model for the early residences of our Cap
4 ftal City, and It is difficult, at this time,
4 to trace the transition from this colonial
style into our endless modern variety. Just
when this Declaration of Independence on
the part Of our national architectism be-
came manifest in this city may be open to
doubt One of the earliest evidences OF
1t, however. is presented by Stewards Cas-
tie" so-ealIed. fronting Dupont Circle, and
once considered the finest residence build
ing in the city. Here is radical and rata-
er abrupt change from the old Colonial
style OF building. The architecture may
/ be said to be OF no particular epoch, and
! was certainly not suggested by Shat OF the
classic public buildings, such as the Capitol,
! Treasury, or PoStoffce- Domestic archi-
lecture in Washington seems to have pur-
sued 4 distinct individual course, and never
TO have been modelled upon the dictates OF
classic taste. The same may be said OF tbs
+ styles employed for church buildings,
which have since become SO numerous. II
may be said generally, however. regarding.
our domestic architecture. judging by the
+ evidences still remaining. that the old CO.
lonial gave way to somewhat heavy and
ornate style which became more or less
general. Samples of this latter may be
seen abundantly in Georgetown. but as the
buildings were constructed chiefly in 5tuC>
co. the remaining examples. are scarcely
in as good state Of preservation as most
OF the earlier colonial buildings.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that IN
modern structures endless variety of style
. is sought. In proof Of this fact one may
take any of the great avenues in which the
houses have lately been built. No two
residences are alike, either in detail or
general aspect. 1t would seem as though
the architectural styles of all ages and all
peoples were sought to be combined in one
thoroughfare.
house modern in general aspect, with
a bay window. ETC., is adorned with cary
ings in the Byzantine manner. Next TO
Il is residence designed after the Yene-
tian Gothic style, and next to that again
is an example OF Italian Renaissance.
Then there is to be seen strivings after
the sombre effect Of a Gothic castle and
the light and airy gracefulIess of French
pavilion. There are houses of no particular
style whatever, which owe theis vagariss
to the taste of the individual owner or
architect and these are modern limitations
of the old Colonial style again.
This rapid change from one standard Of
taste to endless variety in city OF a hun
dred years growth is truly remarkable It
/ is typical of the growth OF free people,
1 VINO bursting the bounds of colonial re-
preston, have sought among all nations and
I all ages for artistic ideals which should bs
/ worthy Of their wealth and power, and
/ which they have employed in manner
| Enthusiastically their own.