Georgian Style Architecture
Georgian architecture is the collective name given to the distinctive architectural styles, which emerged from several English-speaking countries between 1720 and 1840. The name is derived from the four monarchs named George who ruled over England at various points in history.
Historically, Georgian architecture was the predominant form just after the English Baroque School of architecture as exemplified by Sir Christopher Wren, Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor among many others. The shift from the baroque forms was first apparent in the works of Colen Campbell, most notably in the Vitruvius Britannicus.
Lord Burlington and his protégé William Kent, Thomas Archer and Giacomo Leoni were among the other worthy practitioners of this emerging new style. Leoni was originally from Venice although it was in England that he made a name for himself in the field of architecture.
Under the blanket term Georgian architecture falls many different distinct sub categories all with their inherent strengths and aesthetic trademarks. Palladian architecture lay firmly in the mainstream of Georgian architecture while those who sought a more whimsical approach favoured Gothic and Chinoiserie.
These latter two were highly reminiscent of the popular Rococo style that was sweeping through many parts of Europe at this time. In fact these two forms are often informally considered the English world's version of the aforementioned Rococo style although they do have their own distinguishing characteristics.
The mid-1760s saw the beginnings of an emerging new style that harkened back to the Classical period of years past. Fittingly called the Neoclassical style, this fresh and varied form was championed by many prominent British architects such as Sir William Chambers, James Gibbs, James Wyatt, Robert Adam, Henry Holland and Sir John Soane.
The year 1800 saw a further influence being added into the mix and the resulting conglomeration of ideas came to be known as the Greek Revivalist style of architecture.
One of the most readily recognizable visual traits of Georgian architecture is the careful adherence to values of proportion and visual balance. Mathematical calculations were typically used in order to determine the ideal measurement for any particular element of design. A door or window for example will be mathematically proportional to the size of the room that contains it rather than being arbitrarily constructed.
In the highly precise and meticulous world of Georgian architecture, "Regular" was a word often used to describe a particular piece of architecture that conformed to the established classical tenets of design. A high premium was placed on symmetry in construction and appearance and any additions made to existing structures that compromised this careful symmetry was generally looked down upon as flawed and amateurish.
The care that Georgian architects took to maintain this visual balance is readily apparent in the many rows of houses that were popular during that period. The regularity of the house facades along a street were a testament to the influence of Classical ground rules of architecture as learned form the Greeks and the Romans.
Georgian architecture was also popular enough that it travelled overseas to the United States where many colonial structures adopted this distinctive style.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 24/04/2007
