American Shingle

The Shingle style was a uniquely American architectural movement that flourished between 1879 and 1890. It is characterized by the entire building being covered in shingles, a practice that moved away from historical revival styles and helped foster the functionalism that emerged in the early 20th century.1

This style evolved from earlier Stick and Queen Anne styles, with an added influence from colonial American architecture. Buildings in the Shingle style were typically private homes or hotels, as the extensive use of wood made them impractical for industrial or commercial structures. Key features include a free-flowing, open interior plan, with a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, often enhanced by open porches and irregular rooflines that contributed to a picturesque, rustic appearance. Notable architects associated with this style include H.H. Richardson and Frank Lloyd Wright.1