Edwardian architecture

Antrim House, an historic Edwardian building in Wellington, New Zealand.

Edwardian architecture is an architectural style popular during the reign of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (1901 to 1910). Architecture from up to the year 1914 may also be included in this style.^[1]

Edwardian architecture is generally less ornate than high or late Victorian architecture,^[2] apart from a subset - used for major buildings - known as Edwardian Baroque architecture.

Masonic Temple, Aberdeen, Scotland built in 1910.

The Victorian Society also campaigns to preserve Edwardian Architecture.^[3]

Characteristics

Edwardian houses in Sutton, Greater London, England.

• Colour: lighter colours were used; the use of gas and later electric lights caused designers to be less concerned about the need to disguise soot buildup on walls compared to Victorian era architecture.^[2]
• Patterns: "Decorative patterns were less complex; both wallpaper and curtain designs were more plain."^[2]
• Clutter: "There was less clutter than in the Victorian era. Ornaments were perhaps grouped rather than everywhere."

Architectural influences

• Victorian^[2]
• Art Nouveau^[2]
• Georgian^[2]
• Arts and Crafts^[2]

See also

• Edwardian era
• Edwardian Baroque architecture
• Federation architecture (Australian variant)

References

1. Long, Helen C. (1993), The Edwardian House: The Middle-class Home in Britain, 1880-1914, Manchester: Manchester University Press
2. Bricks & Brass: Edwardian Style.
3. http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/about/

Further reading

• Gray, A.S., Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical Dictionary (1985).
• Long, H., The Edwardian House: The Middle-Class Home in Britain 1880-1914 (1993).
• Hockman, H.,
• Service, A., Edwardian Architecture Edwardian House Style Handbook (2007) David & Charles ISBN 0-7153-2780-1 (1977) Thames & Hudson ISBN 0-500-18158-6

External links

• www.buildinghistory.org Edwardian Architecture (1901-14)
• www.bbc.co.uk Period Style: Edwardian (1901 to 1910)