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
As Digital Editor of New England.com, Aimee writes, manages, and promotes content for NewEngland.com and its social media channels. Before this role, she served as assistant, then associate, editor for Yankee Magazine and YankeeMagazine.com, where she was nominated for a City and Regional Magazine Association award for Best Blog. A lifelong New Englander, Aimee loves history, the New Hampshire seacoast, and a good Massachusetts South Shore bar pizza.
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