'N' is for narrow-gauge brick, a Lancaster building material that recalls ancient Rome [architecture column]

ARCHITECTS’ ALPHABET, PART 14: N IS FOR NARROW-GAUGE BRICK

The Architects’ Alphabet is a 26-part series describing design elements featured in Gregory J. Scott’s new book, “Urban Legend, The Life & Legacy of C. Emlen Urban,” Lancaster’s most renowned architect. Photos for the book, which is now available at egganddartbooks. com, are by Matthew Tennison.

Architects of renown eventually gravitate to either their favorite design style or building material that ultimately defines their work and becomes their “trademark.” For Frank Lloyd Wright, it was the prairie style, for Frank Gehry, it is deconstructivism and for Philip Johnson it was postmodernism. Like Thomas Jefferson, Lancaster’s own C. Emlen Urban was a champion of neoclassical architecture and building materials that respected the design principles of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Examples of narrow-gauge brick on Lancaster buildings [photos]

Narrow-gauge Roman brick is an ancient building material that was “reintroduced” to architects in the early 20th century. Its long, thin profile and thin bed of mortar emphasize the horizontality and monochromatic appearance of the walls built with it. It was a favored building material of Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban and others. Here are examples of its use on private homes and public buildings in Lancaster and beyond.

In addition to Mr. Urban’s passion for neoclassical design, he also subscribed to using an ancient building material that was “reintroduced” to architects in the early 20th century — specifically, narrow-gauge Roman brick. The Romans invented the process of fired-clay bricks, as an alternative to sun-dried mud bricks, for their longevity, consistency and mass production capability.

Their roads, buildings, aqueducts and bridges were built using Roman bricks and remain intact thousands of years later!

The term “narrow gauge” refers to the long, thin and narrow profile of the brick. The average narrow-gauge brick measures 12 inches long by 2 inches high, compared to a standard brick measuring 7.7 inches long by 2.25 inches high. The thin proportion, in addition to a very thin bed of mortar, emphasizes the horizontality and monochromatic appearance of the wall.

HG Architecture Narrow m10 10 .jpg — The former Breneman family mansion, circa 1897, is on North Duke Street and features narrow-gauge brick.
MATTHEW TENNISON

The narrow-gauge brick was a favorite for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style homes, emphasizing horizontality and for C. Emlen Urban’s neoclassical revival buildings offering a nod to the ancient Romans. Urban’s most notable public buildings in Lancaster utilizing narrow gauge brick would be the 1898 Watt & Shand department store building, the 1904 Stevens Girls High School and the 1898 paired mansions on West Chestnut Street. Chances are, if you see the distinctive gold narrow-gauge Roman brick on a building in town, the architect is most likely C. Emlen Urban!

HG Architecture Narrow m10 15.jpg — The 1897 residence C. Emlen Urban designed for John N. Hetrick on West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, uses narrow-gauge brick. It was designed in the French Baroque style.
MATTHEW TENNISON

Did Urban only use narrow-gauge brick on commercial and civic buildings?

Urban employed narrow gauge on hundreds of row homes in the city as well.

What colors of brick were popular?

Gold tone is the most popular as seen on the Stevens School. However; Urban used a tan tone on the Watt & Shand department story building.

HG Architecture Narrow m10 8 .jpg — C. Emlen Urban's Paired Mansions at 623-625 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster, were built in 1898 and feature narrow-gauge Pennsylvania Iron Spot brick framing putti and cornucopia.
MATTHEW TENNISON

What are the rust flecks in the brick?

The flecks are iron added to the clay slurry prior to firing. Referred to as “Pennsylvania Iron Spot Roman brick,” they were used by Frank Lloyd Wright on his famous 1909 Robie House in Chicago.

This column is contributed by Gregory J. Scott, FAIA, a local architect with 50 years of national experience in innovation and design. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows. Email GScott@rlps.com.