Newport Shingle Style

by Cheryl Hackett, Kindra Clineff (Photographer), Richard Guy Wilson (Foreword)

Shingle Style flourished in the Gilded Age environs of Newport, Rhode Island, during the 1880s. The setting for the film "High Society," and the location of John F. Kennedy's wedding, it continues to enchant residents and visitors alike with an unparalleled concentration of carefully preserved architecture. With asymmetrical wood frames and shingled stories set dramatically on stone foundations, these romantic homes were intended to blend in with the surrounding landscape, creating a unified look, while at the same time incorporating fantastical elements such as gables, brick and stone chimneys, bands of small-paned windows, turrets, columns, and pediments. Recently, American vernacular architecture has witnessed a renaissance, as impressive new Shingle Style homes are built alongside those that have presided along the rugged Rhode Island coastline for more than a century. This collection of 15 homes, showcased with full-color photos and evocative text, represents the best of Newport Shingle Style — now and then.

Genres: Photography

128 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27, 2010

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe that I must be a frustrated architect as all kinds of architecture fascinate me. Having spent some time in Newport, Rhode Island, I noticed that the varying kinds of architecture that are in and around Newport truly caught my attention. This book besides discussing architecture also mentioned where certain battles of the American Revolution took place in relation to the homes discussed. The photography is beautifully done. The author and the photographer successfully start with American Colonial architecture and continue on to the 19th Century, the 20th Century, and even the 21st Century shingle style architecture. It is difficult to tell when a house is built in the 20th Century or much earlier. I would like to add that seeing two women successfully produce an interesting and beautiful book makes my heart glad!