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Neoclassical Architecture Overview

Neoclassical architecture was a European movement in the 18th century that drew inspiration from classical Greek and Roman architecture. Key features included symmetrical shapes, tall columns spanning the height of buildings, triangular pediments, and domed roofs. Writers like Palladio and Laugier promoted appreciation for classical orders and proportions. Neoclassicism then spread to America where founding fathers like Jefferson used its principles in designs for government buildings and homes, establishing its influence on architecture in the new nation.

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27 views2 pages

Neoclassical Architecture Overview

Neoclassical architecture was a European movement in the 18th century that drew inspiration from classical Greek and Roman architecture. Key features included symmetrical shapes, tall columns spanning the height of buildings, triangular pediments, and domed roofs. Writers like Palladio and Laugier promoted appreciation for classical orders and proportions. Neoclassicism then spread to America where founding fathers like Jefferson used its principles in designs for government buildings and homes, establishing its influence on architecture in the new nation.

Uploaded by

Hamid Rabani
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Neoclassical, or "new" classical, architecture describes buildings that are inspired by the classical

architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. If you look closely at a Neoclassical building you may see
echoes of theParthenon in Athens or the Pantheon in Rome.
Neoclassical buildings have many (although not necessarily all) of these features:

 Symmetrical shape
 Tall columns that rise the full height of the building
 Triangular pediment
 Domed roof

The Beginnings of Neoclassical Architecture:

Neoclassicism was a European movement that dominated during the 18th century. Expressing the
order and rationalism of the Age of Enlightenment, Neoclassical ideas influenced music, theater,
literature, and visual arts.
During this time, writings by the Renaissance architects Giacomo da Vignola andAndrea
Palladio were widely translated and read. These writings inspired appreciation for the Classical
Orders of Architecture and the beautifully proportioned architecture of Classical Greece and Rome.
One important 18th century thinker, the French Jesuit priest Marc-Antoine Laugier, theorized that
all architecture derives from three basic elements: thecolumn, the entablature, and the pediment. In
1753, Laugier published a book-length essay that outlined his theory that all architecture grows from
this shape, which he called the Primitive Hut.
The romanticization of simple forms and the Classical Orders of Architecturespread to the American
colonies. Symmetrical Neoclassical buildings modeled after classical Greek temples were thought to
symbolize principles of justice and democracy. One of the most influential Founding
Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, drew upon Palladian (ideas of Andrea Palladio) and Classical ideals when
he drew architectural plans for the new nation, the United states. Jefferson's Neoclassical design for
the Virginia State Capitol (1788) in Richmond, Virginia has been called one of the Ten Buildings That
Changed America.

Famous Neoclassical Buildings:

 The US Capitol
 The White House
 Jefferson's Monticello
 The US Supreme Court Building
About Neoclassical Houses:

The word Neoclassical is often used to describe an architectural style, but Neoclassicism is not
actually any one distinct style. Neoclassicism is a trend, or approach to design, that can incorporate a
variety of styles. Although you may associate Neoclassicism with grand public buildings, the
Neoclassical approach has also shaped the way we build private homes. You'll find Neoclassical ideas
in these historic house styles:

 Greek Revival
These stately, pillared homes became popular in the United States during the 1800s.
 Federalist
A Federalist building does not always have imposing pillars, but its symmetry and decorative
details are classically inspired
 Antebellum Architecture
Stately plantation homes built before America's Civil War were often inspired by classical
architecture.
 Beaux Arts Architecture
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, ancient Greek and Roman ideas were combined with
balustrades, balconies, and lavish decoration.

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