Romanesque revival is a form of building technique which was used in the late 19th century. It was motivated by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque style of architecture. Some of the popular features found I this type of church structure are round arches, semi-circular arches and belt courses. Romanesque Revival buildings tended to attribute more simplified arches and windows as compared to historic counterparts in contrast to the historic Romanesque style. .This style was often used for churches, and sporadically for synagogues like the Congregation Emanu-El of New York on Fifth Avenue built in 1929 (William, 1989).
As shown clearly, the Romanesque Revival had an initial start in Pittsburgh by the 1870s; this was facilitated by churches for German neighborhoods. The city seemed relaxed about the early development of Richardson’s architecture and finally embracing it in his Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Allegheny County Courthouse and Jail in the mid 80s. With the Shadyside Presbyterian commissioning in 1889, a flood of Richardsonian Protestant churches conquered the landscape for just over a decade. In the due course, the “Other Romanesque Revival” gently continued and extended well into the twentieth century. Their considerable construction and strong faith communities conserve these churches as a vital part of Pittsburgh’s architectural fabric (Walter, 1997).
Identifying features
Round arches in excess of windows in addition to entryways; thick, spacious entryways and window openings; thick masonry walls, rounded towers by way of conical roof; facades are asymmetrical; variable stone in addition to brick front elevation. On elaborate examples, polychromatic facades having contrasting materials of building.
Romanesque style
This is a style of planning developed in Italy and Western Europe between the Roman and the Gothic styles after 1000 AD; characterized by encircling arches, vaults and replacement of piers for columns. The style included massive masonry, round, arches, small windows, proin and barrel vault mainly between the 8th-12th centuries.
The First international fashion of architecture was after the fall of the Roman Empire, which became widespread in Europe in 1050-1200. The preferred medium of construction was stone masonry. It is characterized by enormous vaulting and round arches separating the nave into bays. The Paintings and carvings made the interior lighter.