Dutch Colonial Architectural style in USA

During the late 1800s till the 1930s, the United States was looking back with nostalgia to its colonial past. The country was manifesting the reminiscence in its architecture too. The Dutch Revival Colonial style of architecture emerged as one of the more widespread styles, particularly in the Northeast. The style drew inspiration from the original Dutch colonial design that was popular in colonial USA between 1624 and 1820, and modernized with respect to tastes and materials. Over time, the Dutch Revival style came to be known as simply Dutch Colonial, as it is called even in the present day.

It is to be noted that the genesis of the Dutch Colonial style remains ambiguous. Most believe that the original settlers from Netherlands built such homes in New York and New Jersey, as they were familiar with it from back home. Some others attribute the origin of this American style to German or ‘Deutsch’ settlers in Pennsylvania.

The Dutch Colonial style customarily features broad, side-gabled gambrel roofs with curved, flaring eaves extending over the porches on either side along the length of the house, creating a barn-like look. Early homes were a single room, and additions added to each end, perpendicular to the long sides, bringing about a distinct linear floor plan. End walls were generally constructed of stone with a combination of brick and clapboard. The chimney was positioned on one or both ends. Other characteristics include double-hung sash windows with outward swinging wood casements, dormers for allowing light and air and a horizontally-divided double door located in the center.

Progressively, the Dutch Colonial style took on many variations in size, materials used and the architectural details, although the original design stayed on. While one Dutch Colonial could have been a small two-story structure of 1,400 square feet with dormers supporting shed-like overhangs, another would be larger with three stories and an imposing entryway embellished with a skylight and sidelights. A commonly noted later development was shifting of the main entrance to the long side from the end of the house.

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