South and East Elevations from Street
Unknown Shingle Style House in Newport, Rhode Island

Judging from its neighbors, this rather playful house was probably designed by a distinguished architect and built sometime in the 1880s.  It is difficult to tell from this photograph whether the exterior cladding is clapboard siding or painted shingles, but the house features more of a Shingle Style calm in its composition and detailing than a Queen Anne exuberance.  The exterior cladding wraps around the building's corners and protrusions without interruption, de-emphasizing the edges except at the roof.  The window frames are remarkably clean in their detailing, and nearly all are positioned so their tops bump right up against either the soffit, or the subtle change in surface planes between floors.  The rounded extension with the triangularly shaped pediment covering the third floor chimney seems a remarkably fun and inventive touch.  It adds visual interest, and it helps keep the chimney from overwhelming the elevation.  Photograph taken in 1994 by Howard J. Partridge.

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