ABOUT OCTAGON ARCHITECTURE

The octagonal house plan became a fad in the mid nineteenth century, promoted by Orson Squire Fowler. According to Fowler, the octagonal plan was cheaper to build, easier to heat, and provided more square footage than a rectangular house. Octagonal houses were built in the styles popular at the time, from very simple vernacular buildings to highly ornate Greek Revivial, Gothic Revival and Victorian concoctions. The architectural style is applied to the octagon plan, making it one of the most diverse house types in terms of stylistic expression.

OCTAGON STYLE MOULDINGS

See Greek Revival, Italiate, or Victorian style mouldings.

Line art image of octagonal plan style wall elevation showcasing door mouldings and window mouldings.
Mix of window, door, and wall mouldings of octagonal plan style house.
Octagonal plan style house with balconies and balustrades on both floors, steps to entrance, door mouldings, and exterior cornice mouldings.
Octagonal plan style house that has wrap-around porch with window mouldings and shutters.
Octagonal plan style house with hipped roof, covered porch, railing on roof, window mouldings, and door mouldings.
Octagonal plan style building with door mouldings, steps leading to door and tall window, normal window mouldings.
Octagon House, 1799 (1741) New York Avenue, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC
Octagonal plan style house that is mostly covered with moss, accompanied with beautiful window mouldings.
Octagon House, Mendota, La Salle County, IL
Interior of octagonal plan style room with window mouldings, and cornice mouldings.
Octagon House, 1799 (1741) New York Avenue, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC
Interior of octagonal plan style room with door mouldings, and standing clock.
McElroy Octagon House, 2645 Gough Street (moved), San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA
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