second empire
Architecture belonging to or derived from the dominant Parisian style of the 1870s, with ornate facades and mansard roofs.
The style is sometimes called Haussmannian, after Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, who was commisioned by Napoleon III for the reconstruction of Paris from 1852-1870. Buildings in this style are associated with the grand boulevards constructed under this plan.
Second Empire architecture includes all examples from the original buildings of the mid-19th century through its various revivals up to and through the 1920s. Many examples are found in North America, South America, and other places influenced by French architecture.
Approximate Dates: 1850 to 1930