Architecture of the United Kingdom

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Architectural history

The architecture of the United Kingdom has a long and diverse history from beyond Stonehenge to the designs of Norman Foster and the present day. Below are listed some architects and examples of their work typical of the era in which they were created. The evolution of British architecture can be traced through these buildings.

Contents 1 Pre-Roman architecture 2 Roman architecture 3 Anglo-Saxon architecture 4 Medieval architecture 4.1 Defensive architecture 4.2 Religious architecture 4.2.1 The Gothic 5 Tudor architecture 6 Stuart architecture 7 Georgian architecture 8 Victorian architecture 9 Twentieth century architecture 10 See also

[edit] Pre-Roman architecture

The earliest known examples of architecture in the United Kingdom are the many neolithic monuments such as those at Stonehenge and Avebury.

[edit] Roman architecture

The earliest domestic architecture is that bequeathed to the country by the Romans, who occupied Britain from 43 until 406. The Romans built the first cities and towns, which included Chester, St. Albans, London and Bath. Many fine examples of Roman architecture remain: of special note are the ruins of the spa in Bath. Following the Roman's departure architecture seems to have regressed and little remains of the period immediately after the Roman withdrawal.

[edit] Anglo-Saxon architecture

Following the battle of Mons Badonicus in 500, and the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon period a few isolated examples of architecture begin to appear; most notably some saxon churches such as those at Stewkley and Wing both in Buckinghamshire.

[edit] Medieval architecture

[edit] Defensive architecture

After the Norman invasion of 1066, more consistent forms of design began to regularly appear. William I and his law lords built numerous castles and garrisons to uphold their authority. Often these were built initially of wood, speed of erection being of greater concern than design or appearance; the best-known of these is the Tower of London. However during the following two centuries of the Norman period further and even larger castles such as Caernarfon Castle in Wales and Carrickfergus Castle in Ireland were built to suppress the natives.

Many castles remain from these medieval times and in most towns and villages the parish church is an indication of the age of the settlement, built as they were from stone rather than the traditional wattle and daub.

[edit] Religious architecture

[edit] The Gothic

Main article: Early English Period

Main article: Decorated Period

Main article: Perpendicular Period

Whilst the Crown busied itself with the construction of defensive structures, the clergy, and indeed most of society, was dedicated to the glorification of god through the erection of Gothic cathedrals.

[edit] Tudor architecture

Main article: Tudor style architecture

Large houses continued to be fortified until the Tudor period, when the first of the large gracious unfortified mansions such as the Elizabethan Montacute House and Hatfield House were built.

[edit] Stuart architecture

Main article: English Baroque

The Civil War 1642—49 proved to be the last time in British history that houses had to survive a siege. Corfe Castle was destroyed following an attack by Oliver Cromwell's army, but Compton Wynyates survived a similar event. After this date houses were built purely for living, and design and appearance were for ever more important than defense.

Just prior to the Civil War, Inigo Jones, who is regarded as the first significant British architect, came to prominence. He was responsible for importing the Palladian manner of architecture to Britain from Italy; the Queen's House at Greenwich is perhaps his best surviving work.

Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and the Great Fire of London in 1666 an opportunity was missed in London to create a new metropolitan city, featuring modern architectural styles. Although one of the best known British architects, Sir Christopher Wren, was employed to design and rebuild many of the ruined ancient churches of London, his master plan for rebuilding London as a whole was rejected. It was in this period that he designed the building that he is perhaps best known for, St Paul's Cathedral.

In the early 18th century baroque architecture, a style exemplified by heavy embellishment and mass, popular in Europe, was introduced, the first baroque house in England was Chatsworth House by William Talman in the 1690. However, it is Sir John Vanbrugh who is remembered as the English master of baroque, his design for Castle Howard of 1699 is that of the first truly baroque house in England, dominated by it cylindrical domed drum tower it would not be in out of place in Dresden or Würzburg. Vanbrugh then evolved the style to suit the more solid English taste this he perfected at Blenheim Palace and later Seaton Delaval Hall.

[edit] Georgian architecture

In spite of Vanbrugh's efforts and those of his colleague and contemporary Nicholas Hawksmoor baroque was never truly to the English taste, and well before the time of Vanbrugh's death in 1724 baroque was being replaced by a return of the Palladian form. The Georgian architecture of the 18th century was an evolved form of Palladianism. Many existing buildings such as Woburn Abbey and Kedleston Hall are in this style. It was during this period that comfort and style became truly popular, and many of England's old fortified houses were rebuilt or remodelled, this is why today it is not uncommon to see country houses with facades in different styles, often the front of a castellated castle would be rebuilt in the palladian style complete with portico, while at one end of the same facade a medieval tower would remain untouched Brympton D'Evercy in Somerset is typical of a house partly modernised at this time. Among the many architects practising in this era were Robert Adam, Sir William Chambers, and James Wyatt.

[edit] Victorian architecture

In the early 19th century the romantic medieval gothic style appeared as a backlash to the symmetry of Palladianism, and such buildings as Fonthill Abbey were built. By the middle of the 19th century, as a result of new technology, construction was able to develop incorporating steel as a building component; one of the greatest exponents of this was Joseph Paxton, architect of the Crystal Palace. Paxton also continued to build such houses as Mentmore Towers, in the still popular retrospective Renaissance styles. In this era of prosperity and development English architecture embraced many new methods of construction, but ironically in style, such architects as August Pugin ensured it remained firmly in the past.

In Scotland, Alexander Thomson was a pioneer in the use of cast iron and steel for commercial buildings, blending neo-classical conventionality with Egyptian and oriental themes to produce many truly original structures.

[edit] Twentieth century architecture

At the beginning of the 20th century a new form of design arts and crafts became popular, the architectural form of this style, which had evolved from the 19th century designs of such architects as Charles Rennie Mackintosh and George Devey, was championed by Edwin Lutyens. Arts and crafts in architecture is symbolized by an informal, non symmetrical form, often with mullioned or lattice windows, multiple gables and tall chimneys. This style continued to evolve until World War II.

Following the Second World War reconstruction went through a variety of phases, but was heavily influenced by the late work of Le Corbusier, especially from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. Significant movements in this era included the British 'New Brutalist' style such as the Economist Building by Alison and Peter Smithson, the Hayward Gallery, the Barbican and Denys Lasdun's National Film Theatre . Many Modernist-inspired town centres considered unappealing by some, are today in the process of being redeveloped, Bracknell town centre being a case in point.

However, it should not be forgotten that in the immediate post-War years many thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands) of council houses in mock-vernacular style were built, giving working class people their first experience of private gardens and indoor sanitation.

Modernism remains a significant force in British architecture, although its influence is felt predominantly in non-domestic buildings. The two most prominent proponents are Lord Rogers of Riverside and Lord Foster of Thames Bank. Rogers' iconic London buildings are probably Lloyd's Building and the Millennium Dome, while Foster created the Swiss Re Buildings (nicknamed The Gherkin) and the Greater London Authority H.Q.

[edit] See also

The full story of the United Kingdom's architecture can best be traced through the following architects and buildings:-

Early buildings

• Stonehenge

Anglo-Saxon architecture

• Durham Cathedral
• Tewkesbury Abbey

Norman architecture

• Tower of London
• Carrickfergus Castle
• Caernarfon Castle

Early Gothic

• Gothic architecture
• Salisbury Cathedral

Decorated and perpendicular

• York Minster
• Salisbury Cathedral
• Ely Cathedral

Tudor and Jacobean architecture

• Montacute House
• Hatfield House

Palladianism

• Inigo Jones: The Queen's House Greenwich; Wilton House

Baroque

• 

  

  Castle Howard
  John Vanbrugh: Castle Howard
• Blenheim Palace
• Seaton Delaval Hall
• Nicholas Hawksmoor: Easton Neston

Classical revival

• 

  

  Latham Hall, Lancashire. Desighned by Leoni
  William Kent: Holkham Hall
• Giacomo Leoni: Lyme Park; Clandon Park.
• Robert Adam: Kedleston Hall
• James Wyatt:
• Henry Flitcroft: Woburn Abbey
• Sir William Chambers: Fonthill Abbey (early gothic revival)

Victorian architecture

• Gothic revival
• Joseph Paxton
• Charles Rennie Mackintosh
• Alexander Thomson
• George Devey
• Mentmore Towers

20th century architecture

• 

  

  "The Armadillo", Sir Norman Foster's Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow
  Sir Edwin Lutyens
• Charles Holden: Rhodesia House, London Underground Stations
• John Belcher
• Basil Spence: Coventry Cathedral
• Sir Leslie Martin: Royal Festival Hall
• Robert Matthew: Royal Festival Hall

• Richard Rogers: Lloyd's Building
• Norman Foster: British Museum, (Great Court)
• Michael Hopkins: Lord's Cricket Ground, (Mound Stand)
• Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)

Contemporary architecture

• Will Alsop:Peckham Library
• Caruso St John: New Art Gallery Walsall
• Zaha Hadid: Phaeno Science Centre
• David Adjaye: Dirty House
• FAT: