Style
Several architectural styles can be credited to a professional architect, the “Palladian”, the “Richardsonian”, the “Wrightian”, et cetera; yet, one style, the Jeffersonian, can be credited to an amateur architect, the polymath and president, Thomas Jefferson. The style was common, 1772 – 1840 in the mid-Atlantic states, and is revived occasionally, nationwide, especially in these pages where six new Jeffersonian homes are available. (For more of the style, please see The Beautiful Home Treatise, #17C, The Rivanna.)
Jeffersonian, The Albemarle, 17B, Plan & Elevation.
Introduction
The Jeffersonian style is the creation of our third President, Thomas Jefferson, statesman, political philosopher, author, historian, scientist, planter, an architect who composed verse, an American genius. The Jeffersonian encompasses elements gathered from all of history, selected with taste, composed in reason.
You will find in the Jeffersonian, Roman precedent, Palladian organization, French Bourbon elegance, American eloquence. In precedent:
of the Roman, the Doric, Ionic, Corinthian; Temple of Gaius and Lucius Caesar (the Maison Carrée);
of Palladio, Villa Almerico Capra (La Rotonda), Villa Badoer (La Badoera), Villa Cornaro;
of French Bourbon, Hôtel de Salm;
of pattern-books, Palladio’s The Four Books of Architecture, Gibb’s Book of Architecture;
the Virginia State Capitol Building, ascended from the Maison Carrée;
Monticello, ascended from the Hôtel de Salm.
#17 Federal, Jeffersonian, 5 Design Variations.
Characteristics
A central pediment over a Doric portico, with fanlight.
Low pitched, gabled and hipped roofs.
Three-part temple – central pediment and wings – on a raised foundation.
An entablature of broad white bands.
The tall windows are shuttered.
The skin is red brick, the columns are limestone or treated to resemble limestone.
A distinguishing Jefferson dome, octagon.
Bi-laterally symmetrical.
Features
This handsome Jeffersonian home features a substantial portico, a dome, and a two-story Great Room. The home’s fulcrum is the octagonal Dome Room, alike a Pantheon whose oculus is enjoyed from the Dining Hall through the second-floor Library – there are niches surrounding, and the storied door friezes lead to other ground-floor rooms. To the right, a Dining Kitchen, laundry and pantry; to the left, a spacious Master Suite; ahead, the two-story Great Room that features a classically detailed fireplace and six sets of arced, double Jeffersonian doors. On the second-floor there are two large bedrooms, suites, really, each enjoying private baths, walk-in closets, and the interesting angles of a high sloped ceiling.
Other house-plans of this series include:
#17A, 3,400 gsf
#17C, 5,495 gsf
#17D, 2,950 gsf
Other Jeffersonian style house-plans include:
#60, The Jefferson, 2,856 gsf
#67, The Charlottesville, 2,676 gsf
Jeffersonian: the Albemarle, Front Elevation alternative.
A portfolio of images, “Material, Texture, Color” for all #17 Jeffersonian Homes, can be found at the bottom of the #17C, Rivanna page.
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