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Jeffersonian Style: The Rivanna

 

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.

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.

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.

Jeffersonian: The Rivanna, #17C, Features

This grand Jeffersonian home features muscular columns, 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 – from here, storied door friezes lead to other ground-floor rooms. To the right, a Dining Kitchen with a Jeffersonian, bookcase library; to the left, the Master Suite; ahead, the two-story Great Room that features a classically detailed fireplace and six sets of arced, double Jeffersonian doors. The great room is sufficiently large to contain a piano or harpsichord, conversation couches, a reading chair, and dancing—when furniture is set aside. On the second floor there are two private yet spacious bedrooms, suites, really, each enjoying the interesting angles of a high sloped ceiling.

 

 

Plan # 17C, 1.11 & 7.1

32’-0”                           Height
79’-8”                           Width
66’-1”                            Depth
5,495                            Square Footage
11’-6”                            First Floor Ceiling
2                                    Levels
3                                    Bedrooms
3 ½                               Bathrooms
1                                    Laundry
Brick

 Room Size

Great Room                    21’-4” x 30’-0”
Dining Room                  21’-4” dia.
Kitchen                            12’-8” x 21’-4”
Master Bedroom            12’-8” x 21’-4”
Master Bath                    14’-2” x 6’-5”
Bedroom (2)                   16’-6” x 17’-8”
Bathroom (2)                  8’-4” x 6’-10”
Library                             21’-4” dia.
Stair Hall                         21’-4” x 9’-9”

Features

open floor plan
kitchen island
main floor bed & bath
main floor laundry
covered front porch
screened porch/sunroom
walk-in closet
upstairs bedrooms/bath
nook/breakfast area/dining

Other house-plans of this series include:

#17A, 3,400 gsf
#17B, 4,200 gsf
#17D, 2,950 gsf

Other Jeffersonian style house-plans include:

#60, The Jefferson, 2,856 gsf
#67, The Charlottesville, 2,676 gsf

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Jeffersonian Style, Portfolio of Images

Material, Texture, Color

                 

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Featured image: Jeffersonian: The Rivanna, #17C.  M. Curtis, des.

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Commission Houseplan

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