Clayton, Claudia

Janet Ivey

Interior Design II

20 March 2018

Greek Revival Housing

There are many types of housing styles across the United States today. Housing styles go

all the way back to when the Native Americans started building teepees. These houses were built

with the available resources and technology that they had. Teepees for example were built from

animal hide. Housing also depended a lot on where someone lived because of the environment

and resources around them. All these housing styles influence modern architecture in America.

As time and technology has advanced, so have the housing styles. Houses were mostly for

protection and shelter, but now they showcase comfort and ornate detailing that can be on a

home. Greek Revival housing may have evolved since it was first built, but it is still an impactful

housing style in America. The Greek Revival home was built to represent democracy, because

the Greeks created democracy.

The Greek Revival style was influenced by the Greeks through their architecture. Greeks

used lots of columns and front facing gable roofs which are a key feature in Greek Revival

homes. This style home was created in 1825 and was built through 1860, right before the Civil

War. This style was used to express America’s independence and democracy, like the Greeks.

Greek Revival style homes became very popular during this time period and the faster a region

expanded, the more Greek Revival houses it was likely to have (Wentworth). Thomas Jefferson
had a role in introducing Greek architecture to America (Wikipedia) He had a book showing

different buildings in Greece and appointed someone to look over public buildings. Greek

Revival architecture then continued to spread and lead to this style reach across America. Greek

Revival architecture continued to reach as far West as part of Iowa. Greek Revival style was also

a distinguished housing style in the South. There are plantation houses that were built with a

Greek influence. These houses showed the wealth of the owners, the Millford Plantation is a

prime example of this.

Greek Revival

homes have many

characteristics that

make it such an

aesthetically

pleasing style. This

style home is

frequently

symmetrical and has a neutral, usually white, paint color. It was made out of wood, which is

painted, stucco, or occasionally stone. The stone is a representation of the influence that original

Greek architecture had on this style of housing. In Ancient Greece buildings were made from

stone. Front facing gable roofs were a very prominent feature in the Greek Revival house. This is

one of the unique characteristics that still influences housing styles today. From the roof usually

extended a portico. Underneath the portico extends a front porch. This was a very popular feature

in the South for Greek Revival homes. Tin or shingles were used to create the durable roofing of
the house. The windows for the house were typically double hung six paned windows. At the

front of many Greek Revival homes the windows are larger than the other windows, especially

on the first floor. Another unique characteristic of the Greek Revival home was frieze windows

that were used. Columns are used in this housing style and is a distinguished feature for Greek

Revival. The columns, or pilasters, were usually made of wood. Surroundings around the door

were often very elaborate. Small sidelights are also common but they are surrounded by a heavy

trim to give a more dimensional look to it. (Wentworth).

Today the Greek Revival home influences many homes. The most notable characteristic

that is still used today from the Greek Revival is the front facing gable roof. Many original and

historic Greek Revival buildings still stand today. A prime example is the Second Bank of the

United States. It is Greek Revival building that was built in the Greek Revival era and shows

many of the key characteristics of the Greek Revival style. Frieze windows, which are a common
characteristic in Greek Revival houses, are not very common in modern Greek Revival houses.

Ergo, Greek Revival homes still have standing original homes and are continuing to be made.

Greek Revival style home when it was created was most notably used for protection but has

evolved and is now to also showcase elaborate characteristics.

This is a typical floor plan of a Greek Revival house. The Millford Plantation house floor

plan is a prime example because it shows the key elements of a Greek Revival home. This

includes where the columns would be placed in relation to the house. From this floor plan you

can also see the symmetry of the house. This shows the symmetry of Greek Revival homes is not

only on the outside but on the inside as well.

The house that I designed was influenced by modern and historically accurate Greek

Revival style. My house was made from white brick so it could correctly have the white color

scheme that was very popular for this style of house. My house was two floors, and both floors

had double hung windows. At the top of the house I also included frieze windows and a

triangular window and the center of the top of my house. I used copper to create my roof, which
extended out past my house. This extension created an area for a porch. This porch was wooded

and provides a seating area. To hold up the portico that I created for my house I used white wood

columns so that it is pleasing to the eye and is historically accurate.Underneath the portico is

painted light blue as many porch roofs were painted, this adds detail to my house. My house that

I created follows the guidelines of a Greek Revival home but has my own influence and flare on

it.

Greek Revival homes are still prominent all the United States today. There are key

features, including columns are front facing gables, which are frequently used in modern day

Greek Revival architecture. However it has evolved to a more present day style of housing. As

technology has progressed and style has changed over the years and the influences of

architecture has also changed. This has allowed the Greek Revival style to adapt and stay a

relevant style of housing today. Greek Revival style housing can still represent democracy and

the independence that the Greeks showed us.

 Bibliography

Dishner, Jackie. “Greek Revival Architecture.” ​HGTV​, HGTV, 27 Apr. 2015,

www.hgtv.com/design/home-styles/greek-revival-architecture. Accessed 13 March 2018

“Greek Revival Architecture.” ​Wikipedia​, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Mar. 2018,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Revival_architecture. Accessed 13 March 2018

“Historic Styles / Greek Revival 1825-1860.” ​Greek Revival Houses & Architecture Facts and

History | Guide to Architectural Styles | Home Remodeling & Architecture in Maryland

(MD), Virginia (VA), Washington, DC​, Wentworth Studio, 8 Feb. 2018,

www.wentworthstudio.com/historic-styles/greek-revival/. Accessed 13 March 2018

Romanova, Anastasia. “Citelighter Is the Fast, Fun, and Easy Way to Do Research.” ​Citelighter​,

Citelighter, www.citelighter.com/art-architecture/architecture/knowledgecards/greek

-revival. Accessed 13 March 2018

Lewis, Evelyn L., and Carolyn S. Turner. ​Housing and Interior Design​. Goodheart-Willcox

Company, Inc, 2018.

Sherwood, Ruth F. ​Homes & Interiors​. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2007​.