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Orson Fowler (1809–1887 US), Octagonal house, 1857. San Francisco, CA. Photo © Davis Art Images. (8S-25846) |
I’m always eager to
show you examples of true American artistic originality! One such form in
architecture is the octagonal house. During a period in architecture that was completely
dominated by revival of any style you want to think of from the past, including
ancient Egyptian, the octagonal house was a true
innovation. In my mind, it could be considered a forerunner of Frank Lloyd Wright’s idea about integrating the
interior of a house with the exterior surroundings.
Octagon houses existed in the US before Orson Fowler came along, but they were few and far
between. An outstanding example is Thomas Jefferson’s summer residence Poplar Forest near Lynchburg, VA. Also, there
were many octagonal schoolhouses in Pennsylvania built between 1790 and 1840,
many of which were converted to residences. Fowler, however, promoted the
octagonal house into a national fad, started by his 1848 book “The Octagon House: A Home for All.”
Fowler’s background was in phrenology, the study of the
shape of a human skull and its affect on the health of an individual. Although
he never studied architecture, in keeping with his interest in the health of
Americans, he promoted the style for its health benefits. Two design elements
of the house made his point: the omnipresent cupola allowed more light into the
house over the central stairs; and windows in eight directions encouraged the
moving of air through the house. He also advocated for “modern” amenities such
as dumbwaiters, speaking tubes, and indoor toilets.
Fowler truly believed that the octagonal house was an
economic way to serve the needs of the middle class. In his book he gave tips
on how to keep costs low. However, most octagonal houses were built of the
finest hard woods, which, in today’s building market, would have been
astronomically expensive. Fowler’s book, though, ignited a fad for octagonal
houses across the country. Although the initial fad peaked between 1848 and 1885,
octagonal houses continued to be popular for people who owned a bit of
property, and to the present day because of the light from eight directions,
and the greater interior space (when compared with rectangular or square
designs).
Because octagonal houses peaked in popularity during the
period of American architecture when every past style under the sun was applied
to both domestic and public architecture, there is a wide variety of ornament
on them. Some are truly plain but most of them share the common features of the
cupola, which was an integral part of the Italianate
Style (flourished 1840–1880). The San Francisco example comes complete with
Italianate cupola, but has restrained Classical Revival
elements scene in the pedimented porch, and decorative quoins. Quoins are the
faux-brick decoration of the corners of the octagon (quoin means corner in French). Otherwise, it’s a simply elegant building.
Here are some further examples of octagonal houses.
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Unknown architect, Octagonal house, ca. 1850–1860. Mechanicsville, NY. Photo © Davis Art Images (8S-25759) |
This house has predominantly Italianate features, including
the cupola, tall first floor windows with wrap around porch, rounded arch
windows, and a prominently projecting eave. Unusual in this example is that
each face of the octagon has it’s own peaked gable.
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Unknown architect, Octagonal house, ca. 1850–1860. Saco, ME. Photo © Davis Art Images. (8S-25743) |
This example is most likely what Fowler had in mind when he
held up the octagonal house as an inexpensive home for everyone. This house has
the unfortunate later addition of a porch in back.
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Unknown architect, Octagonal house, ca. 1850–1860. Winchester, VA. Photo © Davis Art Images (8S-25765) |
Visible in this example are the cupola and bracketed,
overhanging eave of the Italianate style. The gingerbread jigsaw ornament of
the porch may be a later addition, influenced by the Eastlake
Style that flourished 1870–1890.
Correlations to Davis
programs: Explorations in Art
Grade 2: 6.31, 6.33; Explorations in Art Grade 4: 3.18; Explorations in Art
Grade 6: 4.19; The Visual Experience 11.5
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