American architecture took a dramatic turn in the years following the Revolution, but it was really British architect Robert Adam and his brother James Adam who led the way. Inspired by the 1748 discovery of Pompeii which revealed for the first time the astonishing qualities of Roman color, interior decoration and domestic design that had hitherto been unknown, the Adams reinterpreted the classical motif in a way that suited domestic design to perfection. Prior to the unearthing of intact Roman interiors replete with richly colored walls and elaborate mosaic floors, our understanding of Roman classicism had been based only on the study of monumental (and relentlessly monochromatic) above-ground ruins, which had been interpreted for the Georgian period so brilliantly in the l7th century by Vicenzan architect Andrea Palladio.

The Adam brothers, especially the elder Robert, brought profound change to the established classical mode it by applying the lessons they learned at the excavations in Italy - simplified form combined with delicate and elaborate surface decoration such as swags, rosettes, and the pioneering use of brilliant colors revealed to them at Pompeii.

The Federal period also saw great strides in planning and engineering of structures. The new technology for instance, made "flying" staircases, or those with no visible means of support possible for the first time.

In Massachusetts, the work of Charles Bulfinch and Samuel McIntyre stand out as among the best of the period between 1780 and 1825. The Harrison Gray Otis House in Boston, and Gore Place in Waltham, both open to the public, are excellent nearby examples of Federal domestic architecture. We highly recommend a visit to both.

More common throughout our region are two house types, either wood frame or masonry, both with five-bay facades. One has a shallow hip roof with chimneys (either two or four)  integrated into the side walls. The other is (usually of wood), one room deep and surmounted by a simple gable roof. This second type of "vernacular" Federal house almost always had one or more utility ells extending to the rear.

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