DEVELOPMENTOFARCHITECTURE

IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND
On 18th CenturyEngland

History of Architecture-V SectionI

VICTORIAN ERA 1837-1901
Context: England
britmaps.com
 VICTORIANERA 1837-1901
Context: England

• Architecture practiced in the 19th century

England, during the reign of Queen Victoria.The
era is called Victorian Era.
• The Impact of a ruler-King or Queen is suchon
the society that the period of their ruling is
named by their name.
• A flourishing Period
 Victorian Era
Three Phases:

• Early Victorian Era

• Mid Victorian Era: The High Period
• Late Victorian Era
 REVIVAL OFGOTHICARCHITECTURE
Context: England.

• Vaults
• Use of Bricks
• Construction of Churches
• Britain emerged as a Industrial power.
• British Society was changed with the fastest rateof
development.
• Architecture was being accepted as a profession till
19th Century.
• Tremendous increase in construction of buildings
started after the Industrial Revolution.
 REVIVAL OFGOTHICARCHITECTURE
Context: England.
• Commoners started building: Invested in art of
building. Realized it as a necessity. Previously only
Kings, churches used to build.
• Started building-factories, school churches,public
buildings etc
• Husband of Queen Victoria- Albert-fond ofdesigning
the buildings-but wasn’t anarchitect/Builder.
• Architecture was recognized as a profession and fee
was charged.
• Realization of various building componentslike
structure, building services etc.
 REVIVAL OFGOTHICARCHITECTURE
Context: England.
• Architecture style was kept Plain, Simple, Rational.
Unlike Gothic: Very rich or overworked.
• Gothic was considered as national style: Very well
accepted, sentiments attached.
• Parliament Building: Charles Barry & A.W Pugin.
• Designed in an architectural Competition
• Designed in Gothic style : Sentiments wereattached,
easily accepted.
• Barry believed that gothic style was related with
splendor and richness and has no connection with
Religious/ spirituality.
 Charles Barry

Augustus Pugin

Source:
www.parliament.uk
 EARLYVICTORIAN PERIOD
• Rationality came handy
• Awntugin: French Architect Based In U.K.
• Helped in designing the parliamentbuilding.
• Promoted Gothic architecture
• Very Religious human, catholic
• Disliked Industrial Revolution.
• Believed in truth-ness of Gothic Architecture and
disliked any other form of architecture.
• Wrote book: True Principles of ChristianArchitecture.
• Taught and help spread Gothic architecture.
 EARLYVICTORIAN GOTHIC
• William Butterfield
 Few Churches
• William Butterfield: British Architect/ Practitioner.
• Built Church- Gothic Style
• Used Exposed Brick of different color and not
stone: first time ever used in a religiousbuilding.
• Constructed to minimize the landuse. Limited
land available in England.
• Spread vertically and not horizontally.
• Not considered an very beautiful building.
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN
• Architects open to experimentations
• Took inspirations from French, Italian Gothic.
• Buildings were massive & bulky.
• Concept of Truthfulness of building rises. Need
not hide the building with layers rather expose
the building materials.
• Textures of materials were part ofdecoration.
• Buildings started to be Polychromatic and notof
single color.
• Beginning of 2Dpatterns.
• Increased Span of buildings due to newmaterials.
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN
• John Ruskin: Artist, Architect & Theorist.
• Not trained asarchitect.
• Disliked Industrial Revolution.
• Wrote Books: Seven Lamps of Architecture & Stonesof
Venice, Still prevalent.
• Believed that ornamentation and decoration are
inseparable part of architecture. Gave second
preference to structure/services. Primary isDecoration.
• Believed that decoration done by hand is far more
impressive than machine made products. As the artist
does it withsentiments and care which a machine can
never do.
• Inspired by natural forms available.
 John Ruskin

No person who is not

Painted By: John Everett Millais
an architect or
sculptor cannot be an
architect, He can only
be a builder.
Source: The works of JohnRuskin
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN
• G.G Scott: Restorer of Gothic Architecture.
• Albert Memorial
• St. Pancras Railway Station.
• Built dominating buildings
• Preferred Monumentality in abuilding
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN

St. Pancras Railway Station, London:

An inspiration to Victoria Terminus inBombay.

Source: Wikipedia
MID/HIGH VICTORIAN
Albert Memorial

Source: The Victoria Web

 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN
Alfrer Waterhous:
• Knew many architecture styles
• Built Natural history Museum, London, 19th
Century.
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN

Natural History Museum, London

Source: Wikipedia
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN
J.FBentley:
• Worked in exposedBrick
• Westminster Cathedral

George Edmund Street:

• Mainly Built churches.
• Also built a Law Court.
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN

Westminster cathedral, Westminster

Source: Wikipedia
 MID/HIGH VICTORIAN

St. Mary’s the Virgin Church

Source: MIT Press

Law Court
Source: Daily mail