mansions

Mansions are large, formally designed houses that signify affluence and social status. The term generally denotes a residence substantially larger than the local average, with extensive floor space, multiple living areas, and often substantial grounds. A mansion typically contains public entertaining spaces, such as drawing rooms, libraries, and ballrooms, along with private suites and service quarters for staff. Architectural styles vary widely, including neoclassical, Beaux-Arts, Gothic Revival, Colonial, and Victorian forms, and may integrate formal gardens and carriage houses.

Historically, mansions arose among Europe's aristocracy as country houses used for residence and display. In the early modern period, large palatial houses became symbols of power; by the 18th and 19th centuries, the rise of wealth from trade, industry, and colonial influence produced a new class of mansion-houses in cities and countryside. In the United States, the term came to describe grand residences built by industrialists and financiers during the Gilded Age and early 20th century, many of which resemble European country houses in scale and ornament.

Today, mansions may remain private homes, be converted into hotels, museums, government offices, or used as event venues. Many survive as important architectural heritage, with preservation efforts focusing on maintaining historic interiors and exterior facades and protecting associated landscapes. The size and exclusivity of mansions can influence their maintenance costs and market value.

Within regions, usage can differ: in the United Kingdom a "mansion house" or large country house is often a historic estate's main residence; in the United States the term commonly refers to a stand-alone residence in suburbs or coastal estates, sometimes renamed as a "manor" or "estate" depending on context.