Second Empire Architecture

If you have been reading my blog, by now you are fully aware of my love for old homes and architecture!

In the next few weeks, each Monday, I'll be introducing a different old house architectural style.

By the end of this, you will be able to drive down the street and name the style of each house you pass!

This week, I'm starting with my all-time favourite style - Second Empire.

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Many architectural styles are manifested from or associated with a world ruler, culture or empire.

The Second Empire style is associated with Napoleon III who was emperor of the Second French Empire from 1852-1870. During his reign, Napoleon III directed much of Paris to be rebuilt with wide streets and monumental buildings, replacing the existing medieval alleys and structures. The Second Empire style was born out of this rebuilding with its roots based off of Italian and French Baroque forms.

Second Empire architecture is visually heavy and immense, often associated with power and wealth. It is serious & formal yet decorative & ornate. Second empire buildings are visually broken into layers, giving a stacked appearance like a wedding cake!

A Second Empire structure’s most notable feature is the mansard roof.

The mansard roof originated in 16th century France and was developed in the 17th century by Francois Mansart – of which it gets its name.

A mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel roof with a shallow or flat top and usually includes a series of dormer windows. The roof line may be vertical, convex, concave or even “S” shaped. This roof type allows for an extra full story of useable space in what would otherwise be impracticable attic space.

Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Other typical features of a Second Empire house include decorative iron trim known as “cresting” on top of the mansard roof, bay windows, a square or rectangle tower and elaborate ornamentation.

In North America, Second Empire homes took on details from Victorian and Italianate styles such as ornate door & window hoods and heavily brackets cornices. Second Empire architecture was popular in Canada from 1865 - 1900.

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

House plans are typically symmetrical with a central tower or asymmetrical with a tower to one side. The floorplan is usually based off a simple box form (square or rectangle) or an “L” shape.

A central feature window is often found over the entrance in a pair or triple window set.

The front door is hard to miss as it typically is highlighted by a porch or canopy. The entrance is usually elevated above the grade by several steps and the front door is either a single extra wide door or double doors.

Decorative “eyebrows” or “hoods” are above each window, door and dormered windows.

Roofs are usually slate shingles that were sometimes laid in decorative patterns.

Most second empire homes are brick or wood structures.

St. Mary's Ontario, Canada

(Sorry this is not the best picture lighting wise!)

St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada

St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada

(Dormer, Bay Window, Porch, Cresting & Tower Detail - SWOON!)

St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada

(Tower Detail)

Second Empire architecture was made famous, albeit in a negative or scary light, in TV shows and movies such as The Addams Family, The Munster’s, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life.

What is your favourite old house architectural style?

Stay tuned each week for a look at another exciting style!

With gratitude,

Chantelle