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Edwardian architecture usually refers to a Neo-Baroque architectural style that was popular for public buildings in the British Empire during the Edwardian era (1901–1910). Architecture up to 1914 is commonly included in this style.[1]

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Belfast City Hall, an example of Edwardian Baroque architecture or "Wrenaissance", in Northern Ireland

It can also be used to mean various styles in middle-class housing, including relaxed versions of Arts and Crafts architecture.

Description

Summarize
Perspective

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.

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Masonic Temple, Aberdeen, Scotland built in 1910.

The Victorian Society campaigns to preserve architecture built between 1837 and 1914, and so includes Edwardian as well as Victorian architecture within its remit.[3]

Characteristics

The characteristic features of the Edwardian Baroque style were drawn from two main sources: the architecture of France during the 18th century and that of Sir Christopher Wren in England during the 17th—part of the English Baroque (for this reason Edwardian Baroque is sometimes referred to as "Wrenaissance"). Sir Edwin Lutyens was a major exponent, designing many commercial buildings in what he termed 'the Grand Style' during the later 1910s and 1920s. This period of British architectural history is considered a particularly retrospective one, since it is contemporary with Art Nouveau.

Typical details of Edwardian Baroque architecture include extensive rustication, usually more extreme at ground level, often running into and exaggerating the voussoirs of arched openings (derived from French models); domed corner rooftop pavilions and a central taller tower-like element creating a lively rooftop silhouette; revived Italian Baroque elements such as exaggerated keystones, segmental arched pediments, columns with engaged blocks, attached block-like rustication to window surrounds; colonnades of (sometimes paired) columns in the Ionic order and domed towers modelled closely on Wren's for the Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Some Edwardian Baroque buildings include details from other sources, such as the Dutch gables of Norman Shaw's Piccadilly Hotel in London.

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Edwardian houses in Sutton, Greater London, England
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Catts Farm, Kingsclere, Newbury, design by H. Launcelot Fedden (1869–1910), as seen in The Building News, July 31, 1908.

Other characteristics include:

  • 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

Notable examples

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53 King Street, built for Lloyds Bank during 1915.
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Lancaster House, Manchester, built during 1910.

United Kingdom

Argentina

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Department of Education Building, Sydney
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Flinders Street station, Melbourne
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An Edwardian residence in South Yarra, Melbourne

Australia

Canada

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Hotel Macdonald
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The Empress Hotel

Hong Kong

Victoria City
Kowloon

India

Ireland

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Government Buildings near Merrion Square, Dublin

Malaysia

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Penang City Hall in Penang

New Zealand

Singapore

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

See also

References

Further reading

External links

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