Swan House (Atlanta) facts for kids

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Swan House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Front of Swan House and Yard
Location in Atlanta
Location	Atlanta, Georgia
Built	1928
Architect	Schutze, Philip T.
Architectural style	Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals
NRHP reference No.	77000434
Added to NRHP	September 13, 1977

The cascading fountain following the stairs down the back of the house.

The Edward Inman "Swan" House is a beautiful mansion in Atlanta, Georgia. It was built in 1928 for a wealthy family, Edward and Emily Inman. A famous architect named Philip T. Shutze designed it.

Today, the Swan House is part of the Atlanta History Center. It's a popular place to visit and has even been seen in movies! You might recognize it from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2.

What Architectural Style Is Swan House?
- Blending Old Styles: Italian and English Classicism
- How Different Parts of the House Show These Styles
Who Designed Swan House?
- Shutze's Education and Influences
What Are the Key Design Features?
- Inside the Mansion
- Gardens and Water Features
Who Lived in Swan House?
- Building and Moving In
What Is Swan House Used for Today?
- Visiting the Swan House
Gallery
See also

What Architectural Style Is Swan House?

The Swan House is known for its "eclectic" style. This means it mixes many different architectural ideas. Overall, it looks like a Renaissance Revival building. This style brings back designs from the European Renaissance period.

Blending Old Styles: Italian and English Classicism

The house combines ideas from both Italian and English classicism. Classicism is an architectural style that uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.

Italian classicism from the 1500s often featured complex designs. It valued beautiful decorations more than showing how the building was put together. Walled gardens were also a very important part of this style. You can see columns and triangular shapes called pediments on the Swan House, which are common in classical architecture.

English classicism followed Italy's lead starting in the 1600s. In England, this style was often used for large country homes. These homes sometimes had different types of columns on each floor. For example, Doric order columns on the first floor, and Corinthian or Ionic columns on higher floors. The Swan House shows this mix of column styles.

How Different Parts of the House Show These Styles

The back of the Swan House, with its balanced look and a fountain that flows down steps, clearly shows Italian Renaissance style. The front of the house, with its grand entrance, is Anglo-Palladian. This was an Italian classical style that became popular in English country houses.

Inside the house, you can also see Anglo-Palladian style in the detailed wood carvings and wall decorations. The rooms feel like they are from the 1700s, but the furniture gives them a modern 1900s touch.

Who Designed Swan House?

The Swan House was designed by Philip T. Shutze. He is considered one of Atlanta's most famous architects. He designed many important public buildings and private homes. Shutze was known for his amazing skill with details and making sure everything was in perfect proportion.

Shutze's Education and Influences

Shutze studied architecture at the Georgia School of Technology, Columbia University, and the American Academy in Rome, Italy. Studying in Rome gave him a direct look at the Italian Renaissance style. This style became a big part of his work.

He started his career working for an Atlanta architectural firm. His training in the Beaux-Arts tradition also shaped his classical designs. Shutze traveled a lot, learning how different climates and places affected architecture. He also paid close attention to textures, colors, and how his buildings fit into their surroundings.

What Are the Key Design Features?

Outside the Swan House, you'll find tall stone pillars called obelisks and beautiful fountains. These features remind us of Renaissance architecture. The front entrance has special columns and broken pediments. These were inspired by a place called Duncombe Park in Yorkshire, England. Sculptures near the entrance, showing summer and autumn, add to the "Italian villa feeling."

Inside the Mansion

Inside, the house has many rooms. There's an entry hall, a library, a morning room, a dining room, four bedrooms, a sitting room, a basement, and an apartment in the attic. The architect, Shutze, worked with Emily Inman to decorate the inside. Emily wanted to make sure the house could hold her collection of old furniture and art. The interior decorations are raised, creating shadows that add depth to the rooms.

Gardens and Water Features

The Swan House sits on top of a hill. At the back, there's a grand staircase with a dramatic water cascade flowing down the hill. This water feature was inspired by the Palazzo Corsini in Rome, which Shutze had studied.

Shutze also designed the formal gardens outside the house. They are inspired by Italian garden styles. The gardens have terraced lawns, stone walls, and a formal area for cars. There's a cool contrast between the big open lawns and the smaller, private boxwood gardens.

Who Lived in Swan House?

The Swan House was built especially for Edward and Emily Inman. They were a very rich family who inherited their money from cotton. The Inmans used their wealth to help rebuild Atlanta after the damage from the Civil War.

The architect, Philip Shutze, actually gave the house its nickname, "Swan House." This is because there are many swan decorations throughout the house's interior. He said the swan motif was one of his "favorite things" about the house. Besides the house, the Inmans owned a large 28-acre property. This included a garage, living quarters for servants, and a barn.

Building and Moving In

Construction of the house began in 1925. It is located in the Buckhead neighborhood, a nice residential area of Atlanta. The house was finished in March 1928, and the Inmans moved in.

Edward Inman passed away just three years after they moved in. After his death, Emily asked her children and grandchildren to live with her in the house. Emily Inman loved the grand staircase inside so much that she wouldn't let anyone use it! Everyone had to use the servants' staircase at the back of the house instead. Emily Inman lived in the Swan House until she died.

What Is Swan House Used for Today?

In 1966, the Atlanta Historical Society bought the Swan House. Their goal was to save the house and use it as their new main office. Many people in the community were excited and helped with the purchase.

The Swan House eventually became too small for the historical society's offices. So, a new building was built on the property for their headquarters. The Swan House itself was then turned into a museum. In 1993, the Atlanta Historical Society brought all its properties together to form the Atlanta History Center, and the Swan House became a key part of it.

Visiting the Swan House

The house has been carefully restored to look just as it did when the Inmans lived there. Both the inside and outside have been fixed up to be historically accurate. The property has been open for public tours since 1967. It offers a great look into what life was like in Atlanta in the 1920s.

As mentioned, the Swan House was used as a filming location for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2. In the movies, it served as a building similar to the White House. The directors chose the mansion because of its classical style and old details. They wanted a place that "looked like it had been there forever."

The Swan House is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.