Features and stages of development of the Georgian style in architecture

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Georgian style in architecture is called the building elements and forms that existed from the beginning of the 18th to the thirties of the 19th century. This period coincides with the era called Georgian after the names of the first four British monarchs of the dynasty of Hanover, who from I to IV were called Georges. Their successive reigns lasted from August 1714 to June 1830.

In the United States, the term "Georgian house" is commonly used to describe all buildings of that period, regardless of style. English architecture is generally limited to buildings with characteristics typical of the time. The Georgian direction in the United States since the end of the 19th century has been reborn as neo-colonial architecture. At the beginning of the 20th century, the style reappears in Britain under the name Neo-Georgian.

Early transitional period

Long-distance tours of Europe were very common for we althy Englishmen during this period, because Italian art and culture dominated British culture for a long time.styles. The influence of the English Baroque continued throughout the 1720s, gradually giving way to the more restrained lines of Georgian architecture.

One of the first designers of the transition period was the famous British architect James Gibbs. His early Baroque buildings reflected his time in early 18th-century Rome, but after 1720 he began to lean markedly towards moderate classical forms. Major architects who also contributed to the development of Georgian architecture were Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Burlington Richard Boyle and his protégé William Kent; Henry Flitcroft and the Venetian Giacomo Leoni, who spent most of his career in England. Other prominent early Gregorian architects include James Payne, Robert Taylor and John Wood.

Flourishing period

The directions that led to the success of the Georgian style in architecture and became its constituent parts belong to several categories. These are also configurations similar to the times of the late Renaissance in the spirit of Andrea Palladio with classical forms and proportions. Also elements of Gothic and even the Chinese style of chinoiserie (the equivalent of European Rococo), which was carried away by the entire English-speaking world.

From the mid-1760s, the range of neoclassicism expanded markedly and became the most fashionable. Beginning around 1750, Georgian architecture was supplemented by neoclassical architecture oriented towards ancient Greek designs. But as the trend grew in popularity after 1800, it stood out inindependent style. Leading examples in the so-called "Greek taste" are the designs of William Wilkins and Robert Smirke.

Famous British architects of that period - Robert Adam, James Gibbs, Sir William Chambers, James Wyatt, George Tanz Jr., Henry Holland. John Nash was one of the most prolific architects of the late Gregorian era, known as the Regency style, corresponding to the reign of George IV. Nash was responsible for designing large London boroughs.

The brightest examples of American colonial architecture in the Georgian era are Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the College of William and Mary.

Spread style

From the middle of the 18th century, the teaching of the profession of architect as a hotel qualification increased, until such a specialist in Britain was called anyone who could cope with primitive drawings and the construction process. Therefore, the residential structures of the Georgian period are contrasting with earlier houses, which were built by craftsmen with experience gained through a system of direct apprenticeship. However, a considerable part of later buildings were still erected jointly by landowners and builders. And the style and design of Georgian architecture was widely disseminated through illustrated books with diagrams and drawings, as well as inexpensive engravings. One of these prolific authors of such printed matter from 1723 to 1755 was William Halfpenny, who published editions in America and Great Britain.

After 1750, a large-scalethe expansion of urban planning in Great Britain, which favored the popularization of the Georgian style in architecture. Landowners were turning into developers, and rows of terraced houses of the same type became a familiar layout for vacant lots. Even we althy citizens preferred to live in such city houses, especially if there was a square garden or square in front of them. Building standards were generally high, and a huge number of buildings were erected throughout the English-speaking world during this period. Where these houses have survived two centuries or more, they still make up a significant part of the urban core, for example, in London, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh.

Features

In architecture, the Georgian style varies markedly, but is distinguished by strict symmetry, balance and classical proportions, in which the mathematical ratio of height to width was applied. This correspondence concerned the dimensions of facades, windows, doors and was based on the ancient architecture of Greece and Rome, revived in the Renaissance. The external decorative ornament was usually also within the classical tradition, but was used rather restrainedly, and sometimes completely absent. Another feature of Georgian architecture is uniform repetition. This is especially noticeable in the arrangement of identical windows and in stone, evenly embroidered masonry, which emphasized a sense of balance and symmetry.

From the middle of the 18th century elementsand features of the Georgian style were marked by architectural terms that have become an integral part of the training of every architect, designer, builder, carpenter, mason and plasterer from Edinburgh (Scotland) to Maryland (Eastern USA).

Materials

In Britain stone or brick was almost always used, often covered with plaster. Roofs were mostly clay tiles until the 1st Baron Penryn, Richard Pennant, expanded the slate industry in Wales from the 1760s, after which slate roofing became common by the end of the century.

In America and other colonies, wood was the most common, as it seemed the most affordable and least expensive compared to other materials. Even the columns were made from logs processed on large lathes. Stone and brick were used in large cities or where they could be obtained locally.

Residential buildings

The exterior of country houses in England was dominated by modifications of the architectural trend of Palladio (later Renaissance). Buildings were often placed among magnificent landscapes. Large manor houses were mostly wide and seemed somewhat squat and looked more impressive from a distance. In large-scale majestic buildings, the highest central part stood out with lower side buildings.

The roof without ornament, except for the balustrade and the upper part of the pediment, was usually low, but indomes were erected in more magnificent and expensive buildings. Columns, like pilasters, often topped with neo-Greek gables and were considered popular elements of both exterior and exterior decor in Georgian private house architecture. The stucco geometric or floral ornament did not contain human figures. However, in luxurious buildings, sculpture was used like statues of the late Renaissance. Both in residential and other buildings, the windows were placed in a rhythmic order and were large. They were not easy to open, and by the 1670s special casement windows were developed and became very common.

Churches

British Anglican churches were built to provide the best view and audibility during the sermon, so the main (often the only one) nave with side aisles became shorter and wider than in earlier churches. In the suburbs of England, the external character of the temples often retained the familiar look of a Gothic building with a tower, a bell tower or a spire, large windows rhythmically located along the nave, an overall western pediment, where there was one or more doors, but still there was a classical ornament. Where there were sufficient funds, a classical portico with columns ending in a pediment was attached from the western facade. These principles and configurations were also repeated in the British colonies. The non-conformist churches of England looked more modest - they usually did not erect towers orbell towers.

An example of a Georgian temple is St. Martin's Church in London (1720), in which James Gibbs erected a tower with a large spire over the classical facade. This configuration initially shocked the public, but eventually became generally accepted and widely copied both in England and in the colonies. A similar example was the Church of St. Andrew in Chennai, India.

Final period

Georgian neoclassicism remained popular even after 1840. In the rivalry between the architectural styles of the early Victorian era, she opposed the neo-Gothic. In Canada, Tory colonists adopted Georgian architecture as one of the hallmarks of their allegiance to Great Britain, so the style dominated the country until the mid-19th century. Immediately after the United States gained independence, the federal style spread throughout the country, which was essentially an analogue of the buildings of the Regency era. Georgian architecture has seen numerous revivals, such as in the early 20th century and the 1950s. And some prominent architects in the US and UK are working in this direction for private residences today.