|
|
04-20-2006, 04:01 PM
|
||||
|
||||
Favorite West Philly Victorian Achitecture Thread
Inspired by SWCC "favorite blocks" thread, I am curious about people's favorite examples of West Philly Victorian architecture.
My favorite house is the Italianate house on the 4700 block of Chester with the really unique masonary 2nd floor "porch" across from the dog park. St. Francis de Sales is my favorite church. My favorite porch is that really ornate Queen Anne style wrapround number on Baring in Powelton Village (I can't hink of the cross street). Others? 
|
|
04-20-2006, 04:54 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
excellent choices sean. de sales was a great church to go to as a kid cuz if you got bored you could just look around at the awesome interior architecture.
here's my favorite row at 42nd and spruce, which of course was done by frank furness (pictures courtesy "The Cheat"):   His library @ Penn kicks ass as well:  in case you can't tell, i'm a big frank furness fan or FFF. While there are many other examples that I love, the last two that I really extraordinarly love is 60th street between Walnut and Locust (I will get a picture to post one day) and Pearl Court: 
|
|
04-20-2006, 09:15 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
 Or do you mean the apartment building right on Warrington also called "The Castle"?
|
|
04-20-2006, 09:30 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
|
04-20-2006, 10:50 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Wow...I could write for pages on the architecture of West Philly and why I love it. I guess I'll break it down into categories. First, with my home, Powelton Village:
This one is so interesting because the other half of the twin is so dissimilar. Most of the other homes on this block are typical Italianate/Victorian twins, but this one is really interesting and eclectic.  This one is really creepy, and it could be one of the most spectacular homes in the city if it were rehabbed. I love it just based on potential. A few friends have been inside this home and say ALL the woodwork is in tact and thats its just beautiful. Some day...  This one is another one that just doesn't really fit in. Compared to most of the Victorian Architecture in the hood, this one seems so subtly refined.  Garden Court There is something about this neighborhood that is so enchanting. The homes just seem so perfectly created for urban living. Sun rooms, lush gardens, tree lined streets...to me Garden Court is the epitomy of an ideal urban neighborhood. The architecture of Garden court is also much less pretentious than other parts of West Philly.  Cedar Park I love it all! Its a little more decorative than my taste, but its hard to deny that this is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Philadelphia. http://www.phillyhistory.org/photoar...2&ImageId=9518 I could go on forever, but its more than just the architecture that makes this such a beautiful place. Its the people, the activism, the old trees, etc...
|
|
04-21-2006, 12:35 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Not to nitpick, but Furness had nothing to do with the 4200 block of spruce. The Hewitt Bros. designed those buildings. They're built 2 years before the library that Furness was involved in, but stylistically, they're very different. Furness never designed in Queen Anne style unless I'm mistaken.
|
|
04-21-2006, 09:30 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
"The rowhouse form, seen in developments from the 1880s, became a celebration of the Queen Anne style architecture of the period. The 4206-18 Spruce Street row, designed by Philadelphia architects G.W. and W.D. Hewitt in 1887-88 (Illus. 8) is exemplary of the type and style of building developments of the period. The pointed turrets, angled balconies and decorative brickwork are particularly fine examples of the popular Queen Anne style of the time."
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
