Row House Architectural Guide: Federal / Adams

Type of Row House Architecture: Federal / Adams

Years Popular: 1780 – 1840

Typical Characteristics:

Two-story, rectangular construction
Low-pitched or gambrel roof, with dormers/gable
Raised foundations
Semi-circular or elliptical fanlights over front entry
Decorative crown or roof over front door
Louvered shutters
Cornice emphasized with decorative molding (usually modillions – refined dentils)
Double-hung sash windows (six over six) sash separated by thin wooden muntins
Windows arranged in symmetrical rows/columns

Architects:

Robert Adam
Charles Bulfinch
James Hoban
Pierre (Peter) Charles L’Enfant
Benjamin Latrobe

Examples of Federal / Adams Row Houses:

Because Georgian was an English style, leading up to, during, and after the American Revolution, local architecture in the colonies looked to differentiate itself. Although Federal and Adam homes have similar characteristics to Georgian, there are subtle differences. In this row, we see six over six windows with thinner mutions and an half-circle fanlight over the door. Most Federal row homes still feature a paneled front door and dormers. Taking a step further, the row home on the right has Greek Revival characteristics and was probably updated. This group of Federal row houses is located in Queen Village, Philadelphia.

Here are examples located in Fell’s Point, Baltimore, Maryland. Federal row homes often have different shutters on the upper floors than the lower. These homes have the square lights over the door, and prominent stone lentils, more typical of Georgian, showing how Federal evolved from Georgian.

This another transitional row home which has characteristics of Georgian (windows on the first floor) but the raised foundation of a Federal home. Located in Philadelphia, these are rare surviving wood-framed row homes.

Located in Manhattan, New York, these Federal row homes feature even placement of the windows, pronounced lentils, and lighted door surrounds. The side lights are typical of Greek Revival, showing the transition.