The Shingle Style:
A Truly American Invention

Far from a copy—or even an interpretation-of old-world building styles, Shingle Style architecture is a purely American invention. Created by architects who were inspired by our unique early building experience in New England, they looked away from European models and, for the first time, created a truly original American architecture.

The Shingle Style is informal, romantic, rustic, expansive in form and, above all, family oriented. Emphasis was placed on a central hall and large inglenook fireplace around which the family could gather. The very heart of the house was evocative of a secure, safe cottage. It was reminiscent of the dwellings of our 17-century Pilgrim settlers, only these "cottages" were massive, and families were served by a staff of cooks, maids and gardeners.

This new architectural style began as a response to the intense industrialization of American cities in the late 19th century and the desire to escape to an idealized natural past. Boston architects Arthur Little, William Ralph Emerson, Peabody and Stearns, and others working for wealthy clients, traveled throughout coastal New England sketching the vernacular barns, saltwater farms and fisherman cottages that dotted a primitive coastline. These colonial and early-federal buildings became the artistís palette for the small group of talented architects that created the Shingle Style and made it an art form.

The result was the creation of a comfortable, sophisticated home with an open floor plan, marking a new contrast to the rigidly correct mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. These shingled houses were ideally suited for their location and adapted to the natural landscape. House plans reached out in many directions, with one side overlooking a seaside cliff and another with a gazebo reaching toward a wooded knoll. They had a magical quality with turrets and towers all covered in the undulating sculptural material of shingles. Large rooms with delicate interior detailing evoked the charm of an imagined early colonial era. Generous porches and verandas invited in the sea breezes.

The McCue House, built in 1883, was originally called "Barn House" and was inspired by the numerous early saltwater farms in the area. Designed by Arthur Little and built by Roberts and Hoare, this romantic interpretation was one of the first great Shingle Style cottages to be built along the New England coast. Its expansive entry hall, large fireplace and sweeping views incorporate classic characteristics of the early Shingle Style. Barn House opened its doors to picturesque Manchester Harbor and became part of, not separate from, the tidal landscape.

However, Barn House, later called "The Moorings" by another owner, was very different from its colonial model because a significant shift had occurred in the very meaning of the word "house". With sophisticated construction techniques, greater access to building materials, and a more mobile urbanized society, these shingled cottages were no longer built just for protection from the elements. Floor plans were now open and flowing from room to room. The fireplace was more ceremonial than a necessity, and French doors welcomed the once-feared natural environment.

These new architectural changes became common characteristics of all Shingle Style homes. And eventually these design concepts were to have a profound influence on the future of American architecture. It is seen most notably in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, with his strong emphasis on the open floor plan, central fireplace and strong relationship to the natural world. Today, the preservation and reconstruction of the McCue House celebrates the remarkable design innovations that the Shingle Style continues to offer the new American family.

Stephen Holt is the architect on This Old House's Manchester Project.