Gothic Revival
American architects introduced Gothic Revival buildings in the mid-19th century, inspired by an 18th-century British revival. This style reimagined medieval European architecture for picturesque churches, homes, and university buildings in the U.S.
Holy Name Cathedral, photo by Eric Allix Rogers
Chicago Water Tower
Chicago Tribune Tower, photo by Eric Allix Rogers
American architects first introduced Gothic Revival style buildings to the United States in the mid-19th Century. Borrowed from a popular revival that first began in 18th Century Britain, the style spread through building pattern books. Medieval castles and cathedrals of 11th-13th Century Europe were reinterpreted as picturesque churches, homes and university buildings in the United States.
Gothic skyscrapers are less common, but Chicago has three good examples, including: Tribune Tower, Chicago Temple and the Fisher Building.
Characteristics of these buildings include:
- Vertical emphasis
- Gothic tracery in stone
- Pointed arches
- Spires
- Finials
- Flying buttresses
