Everyday Architecture of the Mid-Atlantic: Looking at Buildings and Landscapes(Creating the North American Landscape)

From the 18th-century, single room "mansions" of Delaware's Cypress Swamp district to the early 20th-century suburban housing around Philadelphia and Wilmington, from the gable-fronted barns of Virginia's Eastern Shore to the stone bank barns of south-eastern Pennsylvania, the architectural landscape of the mid-Atlantic region is rich and varied. In this field guide to the region's vernacular architecture, the authors view the mid-Atlantic region as a crossroads, where diverse building traditions have overlapped and influenced one and other for generations. The book explores the character of pre-1940 domestic and agricultural buildings in the towns and rural landscapes of southern New Jersey, Delaware, and coastal Maryland and Virginia. Appraoching their subject "archaeologically", the authors examine the "layers" of a structure's past to show how it changed over time and to reveal telling details about its occupants and the community in which they lived. The text provides architectual information as well as a working methodology for anyone who wants to explore and learn from traditional architecture and landscapes. The author's conclude that, as a vital cultural artifact, the distinctive architecture of the mid-Atlantic needs to be identified, recorded, and preserved.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. House Forms and House Lots Chapter 3. Construction: Underpinnings, Walling, and Roofing Chapter 4. Popular Architectural Styles Chapter 5. Farm Outbuildings and Plans Chapter 6. Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Architecture Chapter 7. Landscape Ensembles: The Example of Port Penn, Delaware Chapter 8. Recording Historic Buildings Appendix: Directory of Resources Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Gabrielle M. Lanier has taught historic preservation and public history at Mary Washington College, Rutgers University, and Millersville University. Bernard L. Herman is associate professor of art history, history, and urban affairs and public policy at the University of Delaware and associate director of the Center for Historical Architecture and Design. His many books include 'The Stolen House' and 'Architecture and Rural Life in Central Delaware: 1700-1900'.

Review :
"It won't fit in your glove compartment, but 'Everyday Architecture in the Mid-Atlantic'is a book you ought to have along as you drive...It's a serious book but it is aimed at nonprofessionals who enjoy historic buildings and landscapes."--'Potomac Review' "A first-rate book...Profusely illustrated with an excellent selection of drawings and photographs...It will be of great use to everyone interested in our built environment."--'Maryland Historical Magazine' "'Everyday Architecture of the Mid-Atlantic' departs from well-traveled roads to explore the less-celebrated architecture of New Jersey, Deleware, and coastal Maryland and Virginia. The authors use more than 300 illustrations to show readers how to date buildings such as suburban houses that have been through many redesigns and expansions."--'Richmond Times-Dispatch'