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Georgian Architecture

Georgian architecture developed in England out of the Classical Revival which dominated Europe from the 1530’s onwards. The name of this period, “Georgian” comes from the names of the kings who ruled England at this time. Between 1714 and 1820, England was ruled by George I, II and III Georgian Architectural style does not overlap the three reigns so neatly however and is most strongly identifiable between 1730 and 1800.

What are the Characteristics Of Georgian Design?

Closely associated with Greek and Roman classical architecture

Most typical in town and terrace housing

Palladianism

Country houses

The Rise Of The Georgian County House

As the eighteenth century progressed, wealth began to accumulate amongst a smaller proportion of the population. As the wealthy became wealthier, they began to invest their money in their homes. Landowners began to envelope vast swathes of land to create large landscaped parks. These parks became the settings for Georgian Country Houses.

Country House gardens also followed the themes of Classicism. They were dotted with classical temples, ruins grottoes, bridges, statues, and follies. Each would be interconnected by meandering pathways and carefully planted trees and shrubbery.

Baroque Architecture

Baroque Architecture was popular at the start of the eighteenth century. It involved elements of classical architecture in a free, unstructured fashion. It’s opulence led Classicism to become more rigid and it was necessary to adhere to a sense of proportion.

Palladianism

English Georgian architecture blended different regional variations. Georgian buildings in England tended to follow the Dutch characteristic of contrasting red brick with white window frames, The distance between England and Italy, limited ties with the Italians dominating Renaissance design. For example, Andreas Palladio was a classical Italian designer during the sixteenth century. He tried to recreate the style and proportions of ancient buildings and is particularly well known for his Palladian windows. Palladian windows do not appear in England until the eighteenth century and reached the United States soon after that.

Palladianism is identifiable by:-

Grace and understated decoration

Use of the classical order, Ionic, Doric and Corinthian

Attention to the symbolic nature of architectural elements. Nothing was purely decorative

Different regions use the same basic characteristics of an architectural style and add their unique influences to it. These unique features may be due to culture, history or local building materials.

Georgian architecture even differed between England and the United States. The most experienced building designers were reluctant to leave Britain where they were earning good money and working on large scale projects. As a result Georgian architecture in the United States was simpler, with less elaborate detailing and fewer elements overall.