The Defining Features of Adirondack Architecture
What is the Adirondack Style? Let the Architects Tell You!
Today the rich and famous flock to Martha’s Vineyard, Miami, and Maui for vacation. However, during the 1920s, the Adirondacks were the hottest vacation spot in the U.S.! Adirondack architecture combines rustic style with touches of grandiose luxury—all while making the most of the region’s natural resources and beautiful views. At the turn of the century, the Adirondack movement represented the American vacation, and this vacation feel is why the design style is still popular almost 100 years later. Our Austin architects define Adirondack architecture and explain the style’s history, influences, and key design features.
What is Adirondack Architecture?
Adirondack architecture refers to the vernacular style of building associated with the Great Camps in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. This style blends rustic materials with luxurious designs inspired by Swiss chalets and the Craftsman movement. Adirondack architecture was popular from the late 1880s through the 1920s when America’s wealthy elite and business tycoons turned the wilderness of upstate New York into their summer playground. While Adirondak lakeside camps have a primitive or woodsy appearance, they often house over-the-top amenities like bowling alleys and home theaters.
A Brief History of Adirondack Architecture
Adirondack architecture came about during America’s Gilded Age, a time of rapid economic growth and showy flash. During this time, most of the country’s moguls and tycoons lived in New York City, and they would flee Manhattan during the hot summers for the cooler weather of the nearby Adirondack Mountains. To accommodate their extended stays, they built the Great Camps using materials in the region to save on costs and prevent shipping delays from postponing their trips. From here, the Adirondack style and the American vacation were born.
The popularity of the Adirondacks boomed from the 1880s well into the 1920s, and most camps were built around Spitfire Lake and Rainbow Lake. As the vacation spot became a place to see and be seen, camps became more and more elaborate. For example, Camp Santanoni in Newcomb, New York, was the first Adirondack camp designed by a professional architect, Robert Henderson Robertson. Camps often contained multiple outbuildings with amenities like saunas, bowling alleys, and separate guesthouses. The location of guesthouses on the property reflected status. So, if you were placed close to the main house with a nice view of the lake, you knew you were popular.
Influences of Adirondack Architecture
Swiss Chalet Architecture
The Adirondack style drew upon Swiss chalet architecture, introduced to America by Andrew Jackson Downing around 1850. Swiss chalet influences can be seen in the steeply pitched roofs, wood facades, and decorative ornaments of the Great Camps.
Craftsman Architecture
During the 1920s, Craftsman-style homes were growing in popularity, and this influence can be seen in Adirondack architecture. Both styles heavily rely on wood, stone, and handmade details. While Adirondack camps were grand and luxurious, they did strive to connect to nature and embrace the rugged terrain of the mountains.
Vernacular Architecture
Vernacular architecture applies to designs that use resources from the area where the home is built. When constructing the Great Camps, families did not want to incur delays from shipping materials from the cities. So, they turned to materials available in the Adirondacks, including cedarwood, local stone, and even twigs. Around this time, architect Calvert Vaux released his pattern book, Villas and Cottages, popularizing log construction. Builders utilized this reference when constructing Adirondack homes, using logs pulled straight from the building site.
Defining Features of Adirondack Architecture
Exterior features of the Adirondack style are directly influenced by nature and the Adirondack Mountains themselves. Homes are constructed with local materials and designed to capitalize on beautiful views and outdoor relaxation. The style’s interior design elements were influenced by British architect Charles Eastlake's book, Hints on Household Taste, which popularized rustic decor.
Exterior Adirondack Architectural Elements
Heavy Timber
Heavy timber is the primary building material used in Adirondack architecture. Homes often feature log construction or wood shingle siding, and they even use roots and twigs as decorative elements on railings and gables.
Natural Stone
Adirondack architecture uses natural stone for column bases and chimneys. In the Adirondack mountains, granite fieldstone was easy to source for construction.
Wraparound Porches
The Adirondacks are all about the great outdoors! In order to maximize outdoor time and capitalize on breathtaking views, Adirondack-style homes typically include wraparound porches.
Outbuildings
The Great Camps often housed multiple families, so outbuildings and cabins were constructed to take advantage of large properties and create separation and privacy.
Interior Adirondack Design Elements
Exposed Wood
Wood is a common theme both outside and inside Adirondack homes. Exposed timber beams and wooden walls give a rustic feel while making the most of the resources on hand.
Large Fireplaces
Adirondack-style homes often include massive fireplaces and chimneys built of cut stone. These fireplaces ground the main living area and promote a sense of gathering.
Connections to Nature
Millionaires built Adirondack-style Great Camps to get away from city life and connect to nature. Indoor-outdoor connections are vital to achieving a sense of calm and relaxation inside the home. Adirondack homes typically feature large windows and interior rooms that flow out to decks and patios.
Why is the Adirondack Style So Popular?
So, why is the Adirondack style still popular almost 100 years after the construction of the Great Camps? In addition to designing homes, this architectural movement defined the idea of American summer vacation. Today, Adirondack architecture is still synonymous with vacation and establishes a sense of rustic retreat as soon as you cross the threshold. Elements of the style can be seen in vacation homes across the country, from large porches to Adirondack chairs on the patio.