Georgian arhitecture

History and definition Georgian succeeded the English Baroque of Sir Christopher Wren, Sir John Vanbrugh, Thomas Archer,

William Talman and Nicholas Hawksmoor. The architect James Gibbs was a transitional figure many of his buildings having a hint of Baroque, reflecting the time he spent in Rome in the early 18th century. Major architects to promote the change in direction from baroque were Colen Campbell, author of the influential book Vitruvius Britannicus; Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington and his protegé William Kent; Isaac Ware; Henry Flitcroft and the Venetian Giacomo Leoni, who spent most of his career in England. Other prominent architects of the early Georgian period include James Paine, Robert Taylor & John Wood, the Elder.

The styles that resulted fall within several categories. In the mainstream of Georgian style were both Palladian architecture— and its whimsical alternatives, Gothic and Chinoiserie, which were the English-speaking world's equivalent of European Rococo. From the mid-1760s a range of Neoclassical modes were fashionable, associated with the British architects Robert Adam, James Gibbs, Sir William Chambers, James Wyatt, George Dance the Younger, Henry Holland and Sir John Soane. John Nash was one of the most prolific architects of the late Georgian era known as The Regency style, he was responsible for designing large areas of London. Greek Revival was added to the design repertory the main exponents being William Wilkins and Robert Smirke, their work dominates late Georgian architecture is characterized by its proportion and balance; simple mathematical ratios were used to determine the height of a window in relation to its width or the shape of a room as a double cube. "Regular" was a term of approval, implying symmetry and adherence to classical rules: the lack of symmetry, where Georgian additions were added to earlier structures, was deeply felt as a flaw. Regularity of housefronts along a street was a desirable feature of Georgian town planning. Georgian designs usually lay within the Classical orders of architecture and employed a decorative vocabulary derived from ancient Rome or Greece. The most common building materials used are brick or stone. Commonly used colors were red, tan, or white. However, modern day Georgian style homes use a variety of colors.

General characteristics Identifying Features (1700 – c.1780): A simple 1–2 story box, 2 rooms deep, using strict symmetry arrangements Panel front door centered, topped with rectangular windows (in door or as a

transom) and capped with an elaborate crown/entablature supported by decorative pilasters

Cornice embellished with decorative moldings, usually dentilwork Multi-pane windows are never paired, and fenestrations are arranged

symmetrically (whether vertical or horizontal), usually 5 across Other features of Georgian style houses can include – roof to ground-level: Roof: 40% are Side-gabled; 25% Gambrel; 25% Hipped Chimneys on both sides of the home A portico in the middle of the roof with a window in the middle is more

common with post-Georgian styles, e.g. "Adam" Small 6-paned sash windows and/or dormer windows in the upper floors,

primarily used for servant's quarters. This was also a way of reducing window tax.

Larger windows with 9 or 12 panes on the main floors

Colonial Georgian architecture

Georgian Architecture was widely disseminated in the English colonies of the

time. In the American colonies, colonial Georgian blended with the neo-Palladian

style to become known more broadly as 'Federal style architecture'. Georgian

buildings were also constructed of wood with clapboards; even columns were

made of timber, framed up and turned on an over-sized lathe. Brown University

and the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, offer leading

examples of Georgian architecture in the Americas.

Unlike the Baroque style that it replaced, which was generated almost solely in

the context of palaces and churches, Georgian had wide currency in the upper

and middle classes. Within the residential context, the best remaining example

is the pristine Hammond-Harwood House (1774) in Annapolis, Maryland. This

house was designed by colonial architect William Buckland and modeled on the

Villa Pisani at Montagnana, Italy as depicted in Andrea Palladio's I Quattro Libri

dell'Architettura (Four Books Of Architecture).

The establishment of Georgian architecture, and the Georgian styles of design

more generally, were to a large degree aided by the fact that, unlike earlier

styles which were primarily disseminated among craftsmen through the direct

experience of the apprenticeship system, Georgian was also spread through the

new medium of inexpensive suites of engravings. From the mid-18th century,

Georgian styles were assimilated into an architectural vernacular that became

part and parcel of the training of every architect, designer, builder, carpenter,

mason and plasterer, from Edinburgh to Maryland.

Post-Georgian developments

After about 1840 Georgian conventions were slowly abandoned as a number

of revival styles, including Gothic Revival, enlarged the design repertoire. In

the United States this style declined in popularity after the revolution, due to

its association with the colonial regime; but later in the early decades of the

twentieth century when there was a growing nostalgia for its sense of order,

the style was revived and came to be known as the Colonial Revival. In

Canada the United Empire Loyalists embraced Georgian architecture as a sign

of their fealty to Britain, and the Georgian style was dominant in the country

for most of the first half of the 19th century. The Grange, for example, a

manor built in Toronto, was built in 1817.

The revived Georgian style that emerged in Britain at the beginning of the

20th century is usually referred to as Neo-Georgian; the work of Edwin

Lutyens includes many examples. Versions of the Neo-Georgian style were

commonly used in Britain for certain types of urban architecture until the late

1950s, Bradshaw Gass & Hope's Police Head Quarters in Salford of 1958 being

a good example. In both the United States and Britain, the Georgian style is

still employed by architects like Quinlan Terry for private residences.

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Georgian Interior Design

Georgian interior design relies on lots of decorative, architectural detail - so add lots of ornate, plaster moulding, and a ceiling rose. Acanthus leaves and the ‘egg and dart’ pattern were the most common type of decoration on the mouldings, also shells, scrolls, lions’ heads, masks and all kinds of fantastical birds and beasts, as well as mythological and classical subjects. Fireplaces, then, as they are now, were an important focal point. Ideally these were of white marble - or, failing that, white painted wood. Paint yours up in a plain glossy white, or even try a faux paint finish, in marble effect.

Curtains

Curtains were quite fine and elaborate, but certainly not too fussy!

To get the look today, festoon blinds would be ideal, or anything with swags and tails, or drapes. Attach a few attractive fringes, to really get the look spot-on.

‘Toile de Jouy’ was a popular choice. But otherwise fabric was not heavily patterned. Choose a small pattern, preferably floral, or striped.

Flooring Floors were waxed wood, or parquet. It was quite common to have very posh, inlaid floors, or to create a bit of interest by stencilling patterns around the edge. Stencilling is something that you could easily add to your wood floor, to help you get the look. Wall-to-wall carpets were actually quite common too - either delicately patterned, or just plain neutral or light in color.

Furniture was quite dainty and refined in style, with typical ‘ball and claw‘ feet. Dark woods, such as walnut, mahogany and maple, were used. For fancier furniture, wood inlays, lacquering, marquetry and gilding were all quite common.

The very best pieces that you could choose for your accessories , and which will give you the essential Georgian interior design look, instantly, are classical style busts and statues and sillhouette pictures.

Georgian architecture

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