Design Ideas: Federal

The Federal, or Adam, style was adapted from the more practical Georgian style. It emerged after the Revolutionary War and dominated the architectural landscape from roughly 1780 to 1840. It evolved from the Georgian influence to architecture styles at the time, which was the principal design language of the colonial period, to avoid any reference to King George. It connotes the period of American history when the Federal system of governance was being developed and honed, hence the name.

Characteristics

It has plenty of delicate features and an array of flourishes inspired by Greek and Roman monuments and features symmetrical rows of windows around a centered door.  Designs are commonly differentiated by Palladian windows and include embellishments such as a semicircular fanlight over the front door, circular or elliptical accent windows, and decorative swags, garlands, and moldings.

Profiles

            Clapboard is often featured as the dominant exterior cladding. However, this may also vary in different locations as Southern homes were also seen to have used brick.

Roof

The roofs for Federal-style homes often include hip and simple gable shapes, as well as roofs with a center gable crowned by a front façade pediment.

Windows

They are never grouped and are instead arranged individually in strict horizontal and vertical symmetry. Front windows are typically five-ranked, although there are examples of three and seven-ranked windows. Palladian-style windows are often used in gables as an architectural flourish.

Doors

The front door for Federal homes is usually the most decorated part of the home’s exterior. A semicircular or elliptical fan light above the door with or without flanking sidelights is a favorite device used in Federal architecture.

Color

Federal homes typically use a light to medium pallet, except for reds, greens, and browns. However, modern interpretations often experiment with more and more colors, incorporating deeper hues to the palette.