New England Architecture 101 – Second Empire
You can tell a Second Empire Victorian by its low-hipped roof.
The Second Empire Style Victorian Home
Photo Credit : Illustration by Rob LeannaThe Second Empire home is like a square Italianate that went to France and came back with a modern and stylish hat. The distinctive dual-pitched hipped roof, named for 17th-century architect François Mansart, was enjoying a revival during the reign of Napoleon III (France’s Second Empire), which then spread across the Atlantic.
Time Period: 1855–1885
Defining Characteristic: Mansard roof
Famous Example: Boston’s Old City Hall and Providence City Hall
Where to Find: Throughout the Northeast, as both residences and public buildings
1. Paint: House and trim are two shades of the same color, with dark shutters
2. Roof: A classic dual-pitched mansard roof
3. Exterior: Decorative details including cornices under the eaves and quoins at the corners
Aimee Tucker
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
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