New-York tribune., 1909-05-23
ARCHTTECTUR4L STYLES.
Modern Reproduction Of Notable -Irt
Of Robert 4ddm.
By VI. w. Mount.

-American domestic architecture has ad-
ranced far beyond that in any other country.
Our taste in architecture in genera has shown
n very distinct Improvement in rec ent years.
AS a uati,n we are becoming more refined and
more cultivated and our artistic development
express itself in the beauty Of our homes
decIare such architects rs Mr. Kendall Of Nc
Kim. Mead & White; Mr.. Hoppin. Of Horpin &
Koen: Nj Wilder. Of Wilder & White, Mr.,
Little. Of Little & O'Connor; MI Tracy, Of
Tracy & Swartwout, and others, who point to
certain dominant styles Of architecture that
have recently appeared as an Indication Of ma
uonaI progress in refinement.
These dominant features in OUT transition
from trashy and overclaborate TO digHihed and
s1mpler forms Of architecture are Eizabethan,
Georeian Adam, italian and mission or Spanish
types q houses and an occasional reviyal-es-
pecially in PLiladelphia-of Dutch Colonial or
F1emish style.
Architecture Of the later English Renaissance
known as the Georgian period. sometimes cor
responds TO our Colonial styles for the reason
that in Colonial days we built. with the mate
rfaIs TrocuraIle limitations Of the massive
Georeian structures of England The result in
America was thin in effect bat often pleasing
anG is known as the Colonial or Georgian type
The New York City Hall is one example and
the Jumel mansion another.
'"The EIizabethan half-tmhered house is 50
fashionable that it viii remain feature in
suburban architecture notwithstanding the fact
that its three-ponted gables are conducive to a
Ieaky roof in our rainy sections, on account Of
the Joining Of SO many angles. Half timbered
effects must be used with restraint because Of
the contrast produced between the wood and
other building Materials" says Walter Il.
wilder.
whether the introduction Of the mission style
rs responsible for an increasing tendency to use
color upon walls one can hardly say, hut the
purcst mission type Of house is dazzling white
From time immemoriaI color has existed as a
feature in plaster walls and the vogue for it
has already become decided. Some architects
sav that the demand for color will increase,
while one says that, if it does, cool and quiet
tonce viii rredominate because strong hues are
not adapted to conditions in this part Of the
country and one soon tires Of them 1t is
proHcmaticaI not only how long the pleasure
10 be derived from colored walls will last, but
ais how long the color itself Will endure. Ar
ehiteots all affirm however, that we are coming
70 use concrete and stucco more and more in
the construction Of dwelling houses. Color, in
an architectural sense, is a necessity in order
To obtain pleasing effects with these materials
without it walls appear dun, muddy and eX-
prCssionlcss.
In Fifth avenue are fine adaptations Of French
chatcaus and English Renaissance types, and
at 49th street a new creation in Italian style
by McKin Mead & White illustrates the dec
Iaration Of William NJ. Kendall, Of that firm
that in expensive houses Americans aic select
ing more and more those beautiful examples OF
italian architecture which were the envy Of tht
world in the sixteenth century.
Ioggias of italian villas sometimes carry ou
the plan of Italy and exhibit big red quarry
files laid In the floor by way Of contrast to th'