1 Richardsonian Romanesque

Named for American architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-86), the Richardsonian Romanesque style features robust and asymmetrical massing, round corner towers with conical roofs, battered walls, exaggerated rusticated masonry especially at the lower levels and ceramic tile. Polychromatic stone and brickwork and polychrome roof slate are also trademarks. Following the Romanesque tradition, windows and entrances are typically round-headed. The first floor is typically reached via a grand set of stairs. Main entrances often incorporate three or more massive and linked semi-circular arches. Trinity Church in Boston (by H.H. Richardson) is the most prominent example of the style; many buildings in Ontario are modeled after it. Architect E.J. Lennox was the key practitioner of Richardsonian Romanesque in Ontario. Notable examples of this style include Toronto’s Old City Hall and the Ontario Legislative Buildings. The Richardsonian Romanesque style was well suited to religious buildings. Good examples of the style can be found all over the province, particularly in southern Ontario.

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