Robert Adam (1728 – 1792)

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Robert Adam is one of the world’smost famous and influentialarchitects. He was born in Fife theson of William Adam, also anarchitect and the second of fourbrothers, James, John and William,all of whom became successfularchitects and entrepreneurs duringthe eighteenth century.

Robert Adam was responsible forthe design of a series of the grandestcountry houses and castles throughoutGreat Britain. In Scotland hismasterworks include Mellerstain,Newliston, and Culzean. He wasarchitect of the King’s Works withresponsibility for Scotland when thefoundation stone for Register House in

Edinburgh was laid in 1774. Adam wasalso the master designer for CharlotteSquare, described by many as the finestsquare in Europe.

Adam studied classical architecture inFrance and Italy and using elements,proportions and details of the buildingshe viewed he created a new type ofdomestic architecture.

Adam’s contemporaries judged him tobe sensible, liberal minded and a livelyconversationalist. He was friendly withmany of the leading figures of his dayand on his death his funeral processionwas attended by such distinguishedpall bearers as the Duke of Buccleuch,the Earl of Coventry and the Earl ofLauderdale.

1728 -1792

RobertAdam

Charlotte Square

Robert Adam was asked by the Lord Provest of Edinburgh to supply elevations forCharlotte Square. It was designed in 1791 and he was paid £200 for the layout, plansand general design with an additional 5 guineas added for each detailed house plan.

The development of Charlotte Square at the end of the century is comparable to a Londonprime site development today. Scotland was an improving country following the social andeconomic disruption of the Forty Five Jacobite uprising - land rates and incomes wereincreasing dramatically. Also the prestigious development of Charlotte Square would help tosell other parts of the Edinburgh New Town which at that time was still being constructed.The square was not finished until long after Adam’s death with the great church being erectedby Sir Robert Reid from 1811 to 1814 with flanking houses to Adam’s original design.

Robert Adam redesigned Culzean Castle and estate buildings on the Ayrshire coast forthe 10th Earl of Cassillis.The interior includes one of the most imposing staircases (see over) in any eighteenthcentury house. The interiors exemplify some of the finest later work of Adam and his team ofartists and craftsmen. He was responsible not only for the architectural redesign but also thefurnishings, carpets and decorative features including columns, cornices and finishingtouches such as mirrors.The castle was completed in 1792 but the decoration continued until 1795.

Culzean Castle

Robert Adam is one of the world’smost famous and influentialarchitects. He was born in Fife theson of William Adam, also anarchitect and the second of fourbrothers, James, John and William,all of whom became successfularchitects and entrepreneurs duringthe eighteenth century.

Robert Adam was responsible forthe design of a series of the grandestcountry houses and castles throughoutGreat Britain. In Scotland hismasterworks include Mellerstain,Newliston, and Culzean. He wasarchitect of the King’s Works withresponsibility for Scotland when thefoundation stone for Register House in

Edinburgh was laid in 1774. Adam wasalso the master designer for CharlotteSquare, described by many as the finestsquare in Europe.

Adam studied classical architecture inFrance and Italy and using elements,proportions and details of the buildingshe viewed he created a new type ofdomestic architecture.

Adam’s contemporaries judged him tobe sensible, liberal minded and a livelyconversationalist. He was friendly withmany of the leading figures of his dayand on his death his funeral processionwas attended by such distinguishedpall bearers as the Duke of Buccleuch,the Earl of Coventry and the Earl ofLauderdale.

1728 -1792

RobertAdam

Charlotte Square

Robert Adam was asked by the Lord Provest of Edinburgh to supply elevations forCharlotte Square. It was designed in 1791 and he was paid £200 for the layout, plansand general design with an additional 5 guineas added for each detailed house plan.

The development of Charlotte Square at the end of the century is comparable to a Londonprime site development today. Scotland was an improving country following the social andeconomic disruption of the Forty Five Jacobite uprising - land rates and incomes wereincreasing dramatically. Also the prestigious development of Charlotte Square would help tosell other parts of the Edinburgh New Town which at that time was still being constructed.The square was not finished until long after Adam’s death with the great church being erectedby Sir Robert Reid from 1811 to 1814 with flanking houses to Adam’s original design.

Robert Adam redesigned Culzean Castle and estate buildings on the Ayrshire coast forthe 10th Earl of Cassillis.The interior includes one of the most imposing staircases (see over) in any eighteenthcentury house. The interiors exemplify some of the finest later work of Adam and his team ofartists and craftsmen. He was responsible not only for the architectural redesign but also thefurnishings, carpets and decorative features including columns, cornices and finishingtouches such as mirrors.The castle was completed in 1792 but the decoration continued until 1795.

Culzean Castle