Editing Victorian Architecture (section)

== Second Empire ==

Second Empire style, inspired by the Paris of Napoleon III and characterized by mansard roofs, achieved particular prominence in Philadelphia through City Hall, the monumental municipal building that dominated the city's skyline. The mansard roof—a double-pitched roof with steep lower slopes and dormers—provided additional usable attic space while creating distinctive silhouette. City Hall's Second Empire design, by architect John McArthur Jr., required nearly thirty years to complete (1871-1901), making it both the style's grandest Philadelphia expression and something of an anachronism by its completion date.<ref name="tatum"/>

Beyond City Hall, Second Empire found wide application in Philadelphia rowhouses of the 1860s and 1870s. The mansard roof adapted well to the rowhouse form, allowing additional floor space within height limits while providing fashionable appearance. Neighborhoods throughout the city display rows of Second Empire houses, their mansard roofs and elaborate dormers creating streetscapes of distinctive character. The style's French associations gave it cosmopolitan appeal during an era when Paris set international standards for urban sophistication.<ref name="moss"/>