Colonial American Architecture: A Design Resource for Contemporary Traditional Architecture: Part II - Review Questions

As you watch the video, you can browse by subject using the course outline and timestamps below. As you progress through the units, you can use the below optional (ungraded) questions to help assess your understanding of the material. Please note that these are not the summative assessment questions to be answered at the end of the course. You will also need to complete the summative assessment in order to earn course credit.

0:00: Proportion Systems for Façade Designs; Chimneys

Review: Which of the following is generally true of colonial houses in Cape Cod?

1. They had two stories and grand, high ceilings.

Incorrect. Houses in Cape Cod were typically designed with preserving warmth in mind; consider what kind of home would best preserve warmth.

2. They had one story, but were very spacious and had high ceilings.

Incorrect. Houses in Cape Cod were typically designed with preserving warmth in mind; consider what kind of home would best preserve warmth.

3. They had one story and low ceilings.

Correct! The low ceilings of homes in Cape Cod were built as such to help preserve warmth. Even today, simple A-frame houses are frequently described as “Cape Cod” houses.


5:01: Window Treatments

Review: What was the most popular color for exterior shutters in the colonial period?

1. White.

Incorrect. White shutters were used in colonial architecture, but they were not the most popular color.

2. Bright green.

Correct! The bright green color of colonial shutters came from the pigment verdigris; the natural darkening of verdigris over time inspired Colonial Revival architects to utilize green-black shutters.

3. Green-black.

Incorrect. Green-black coloration was used heavily in Colonial Revival buildings, but was not the intended color of shutters during the colonial period.


8:28: Architectural Details and Motifs

Review: The popular colonial doorway design utilizing the Composite order and crowned by scrolled cornices framing a Roman pinecone is based on an illustration found in:

1. The illustrations of Batty Langley.

Incorrect. While Langley was responsible for many of the pattern books distributed in colonial America, this particular form comes from another source.

2. Palladio’s Quattro Libri.

Incorrect. This particular design originated in the 1700s, though it does incorporate much older forms – including the symbol of the Roman pinecone, indicating fertility and longevity.

3. William Salmon’s Palladio Londinensis.

Correct! This English pattern book was one of many used by builders in colonial America. This particular motif is found on Westover, and has been copied and adapted numerous times.


18:16: Colonial Interiors

Review: Which of the following treatments was generally NOT used for 18th century colonial walls?

1. Linenfold paneling.

Correct! Linenfold panels were common in Tudor period England, but they fell out of fashion towards the mid-17th century in favor of fielded panels.

2. Plaster.

Incorrect. Finished plaster walls began to become more fashionable than paneled walls by the 1760s.

3. Patterned Wallpaper.

Incorrect. Wallpaper, whether patterned or solid-color, was indeed used in the 18th century, with Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace as an example.