Medieval Aesthetic

• Gothic Revival borrowed heavily from long-abandoned features of medieval architecture. For example, tall towers, pointed gables and archways were common in the facades of buildings constructed in this style. Steep roofs were also characteristic. Heavy masonry, such as thick, imposing stone walls and facades, and decorative ornamentation recalled ancient cathedrals and palaces of medieval Europe.
  
  

Other Features

• Gothic Revival, of course, was not just an imitation of medieval tastes, but a synthesis of old and new. Nineteenth century architects added flairs, such as a multi-textured, polychromatic design that featured different (albeit subdued) colors and building materials (such as brick, stone, terra cotta) enhanced with geometric patterns to give buildings a unique look. In some cases, stained glass was used in place of normal windows. Gothic Revival also represented the introduction of the three-dimensional floor plan that is still used today.
  
  

Notable Examples and Persons

• Alexander Jackson Davis was responsible for introducing Gothic Revival to the United States. Andrew Jackson Downing ran with the idea, constructing stately Gothic Revival homes up and down the Hudson Valley of New York. A number of churches in Branford, Connecticut and Savannah, Georgia were built in this style. In England, the best-known example is Strawberry Hill, home of writer Horace Walpole.
  
  

Neoclassicisim

• Gothic Revival was related to (and influenced by) Neoclassical architecture, which was also en vogue during this time period. Like Gothic Revival, Neoclassicism was retrospective in its inspiration, reviving ancient Greek and Roman techniques for modern buildings. Characteristic Neoclassical features included an adherence to symmetry, the use of columns and colonnades, high front porches and classical ornamentation.