Richardsonian Romanesque architecture is a substyle of the larger Romanesque Revival movement as interpreted by Henry Hobson Richardson. One of my favorite architectural styles, Richardsonian Romanesque architecture is well-known for its massive scale, stalwart massing, and rich texture achieved through rustication and ornament. Richardson died young, but his signature style was emulated by others after his death.
Henry Hobson Richardson was a highly influential American architect. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, then only the second American to do so. Though his early work adhered to Beaux-Arts and Second Empire principles, Richardson was later influenced by Ruskin and Viollet-le-Duc, which eventually resulted in his unique medieval designs. His earliest commission in the style was Buffalo's State Asylum for the Insane, designed in 1869. Richardson's best-known work is likely Boston's Trinity Church, incorporating motifs from a wide variety of ecclesiastical styles, such as Byzantine, French Romanesque, and Spanish Romanesque. Richardson unfortunately died young at the age of 47 in 1886, and the successor firm Shepley, Rutan, & Coolidge both completed his unfinished work and started their own practice.
Some of Richardson's contemporaries operated in the style and were influenced by his design philosophy, as Beaux-Arts design had not quite yet caught on and exotic revivals were popular in the United States. Certain architects had worked in his office, while others were simply inspired by the style. However, the majority of the best-known Richardsonian Romanesque buildings were designed by Richardson himself.
Richardsonian Romanesque architecture has several key features that distinguish it from the larger Romanesque Revival. Dense, square massing is common, though it is not exclusive to the style. More indicative is the materiality--Richardsonian Romanesque buildings use rusticated ashlar, often (but not always) with two buff and dark shades of stone. Brick is more common on less ambitious designs. Voussoirs are exaggerated and massive in size. Entrances are large portals that are recessed into the building, commonly vaulted. The fenestration is typically a combination of round arches and wide rectangular windows with smaller square ones above. Many designs have large towers that rise high above the roof. Ornament is typically subtle and restricted to column capitals and springers, taking the form of leaves and plants. Roofs are steeply pitched and are often red tile.
Richardsonian Romanesque architecture fell out of fashion near the beginning of the 20th century, though some final buildings were constructed in the western states after 1900. Many firms chose to focus on Beaux-Arts architecture instead.