Written by: Julianne McGregor, Interior Designer

As we celebrate Independence Day let’s take a moment to appreciate 5 buildings whose architecture helped shape the brick and mortar of America.

#1 Virginia State Capitol- Richmond, VA

As an architectural declaration of independence from Great Britain- Thomas Jefferson along with French Architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau designed the State Capitol of Virginia. “As a founding father of the United States, Thomas Jefferson was passionate about America’s independence from Britain. He was no fan of the king of England and, by extension, no fan of the Georgian architecture that bore the kings’ name.” The neoclassical design has been a great influence of American governmental buildings for two centuries.

#2 Trinity Church- Boston, MA

Following the Civil War, America was ready to establish a new and more permanent architectural environment, that was distinctive from the colonial designs common in the “Old World.” The architect- Henry Hobson Richardson- wanted to create a unique structure distinctly American. He integrated personal ideas with traditional Romanesque design to create Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Trinity Church became home to bold towers and arches, an innovative open format layout, and beautiful murals and stained-glass windows that would go on to influence Louis H. Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.

#3 Wainwright Building- St. Louis, MO

While the Wainwright Building wasn’t the very first skyscraper ever built- it was the first to embrace the same square footage at the top as on the ground level- rather than the wedding cake tier shape that was used in previous architecture. Designed by Louis H. Sullivan- the Wainwright Building became the aesthetic influence for skyscrapers of the future.

#4 Robie House- Chicago, IL

It is impossible to talk about American Architecture without mentioning Frank Lloyd Wright. Frank Llyod Wright’s Residential Architecture is distinctly American- as it was created to compliment the landscape of the Midwest. Wright’s radical approach to design incorporated a low and long shape that would blend in with the prairies, and continuous windows to bring the outside into the home. His architecture also offered a more informal lifestyle that has influenced Residential design to this day.

#5 Highland Park Ford Plant- Highland Park, MI

The introduction of the Model T automobile brought into light the need for large manufacturing space to run on of the world’s largest and earliest assembly lines. The need for a vast amount of space meant a revolutionary approach to seemingly boring warehouse architecture. Henry Ford hired Albert Khan for the job- who in turn designed a space that was three times larger than any vehicle plant of the day- allowing for larger windows bringing fresh air and daylight to the workers. While the Highland Park Ford Plant was quickly outgrown it became the template for the manufacturing industry.

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