To read more about the history and cultural significance of 48 Hudson, please visit our separate page on the building here. Built in 1728, it is also the oldest house in the city of Albany. Other components of Dutch architecture include buildings with raised parapets, steeped gables, and “H” shaped timber frames.Ĥ8 Hudson Avenue, also known as the Van-Ostrande-Radliff House, is believed to be one of the only structures in the United States to have the original timber frame. Some of the general similarities of Dutch buildings seen throughout New York State are the extended eaves, gambrel and gabled roofing. Beyond the ethnic diversity of the numerous European peoples, New Netherland’s African and Native American inhabitants also influenced the architectural style, as well as the materials available to settlers. “The architecture presented here (New Netherland) can be characterized as ‘‘Dutch’’-the Dutch remained the dominant group in the area by population new or smaller groups tended to assimilate to the Dutch ways in religion, architecture, and language the region had formerly been under the control of the Dutch and early observers and travelers regularly described the towns and families as ‘‘Dutch…” Within New Netherland, the diverse colonial environment also contributed to a developing and unique style of architecture. Manca further elaborates on this feeling of ‘Dutchness’: Artwork from this period demonstrates recognizable qualities of Dutch architecture that can be seen in the buildings of New Netherland. Holland was the most prosperous and wealthy of the provinces. More commonly known as the Dutch Republic, a Golden Age of Dutch art, literature, science and design flourished in this time period. From 1588 until 1795, The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands consisted of much of the present-day Netherlands. Additionally, The Netherlands in the 17th century had different political boundaries than in the modern era. As such, the style remains difficult to define in a cultural sense as it is made up of a variety of influences. Other ethnic Europeans that share architectural similarities with the Dutch include the Flemish, Walloons, French Huguenots and Palatine Germans. The close proximity of these nations allowed for a spread of customs, ideas, religious beliefs and various modes of artistic expression and technique, including architecture. Dutch traditions were not only present in the Netherlands, but also in Belgium, northern France, and western Germany. Other features that can be seen in the artwork from the Netherlands include gabled and steeped gable roofs and tinder frame structures.ĭutch Architecture in the Old & New WorldĪspects of Dutch culture were present in numerous other ethnic communities in the Old World. Many aspects of Dutch architecture were brought over to the New World from the Old one, including the porch. In Dutch structures, the porch was utilized for both social and work purposes. Native people in Upstate New York, like the Mohawks of the Iroquois nation, built porches on their longhouses to provide shade for duties performed outdoors. Thus it can be argued that a variety of people and cultures contributed to the design of the “American” porch in Early America. Manca notes that porches can be found in the architectural record of a variety of cultures and geographical regions across the world. However, looking at the historical record left behind by Dutch artists dating back to the Early Modern period, a tradition of porch building is evident. Some historians have argued that the Dutch drew inspiration from the English in their design of the porch. In “On the Origins of the American Porch Architectural Persistence in Hudson Valley Dutch Settlements,” Manca addresses the lack of scholarly attention to the contributions made by Dutch craftsmen in the Early American period. Historian Joseph Manca, a professor of Art History at Rice University, addresses the issue of defining the Dutch style and the contributions the Dutch made to architecture and design in his work. One debate is whether or not the Dutch introduced the Porch in New Netherland. It can be difficult to pinpoint “exclusively” Dutch, or English design qualities in buildings and other structures, especially those that exist today from the period after the settling of New Netherland (the modern day East Coast of the US). What exactly makes up “Dutch Architecture” is a controversial subject that is debated by historians and architecture professionals alike. Defining Dutch Colonial Architecture The term “Dutch Architecture” is one that is not easily defined.
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