second empire
Architecture belonging to or derived from the dominant Parisian style of the 1870s, with ornate facades and mansard roofs.
Pictured: Hotel Pierre
Second Empire is a French strain of neo-renaissance architecture from the second half of the 19th century. It is characterized by mansard roofs and ornate facades with baroque features.
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
second empire Photos
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