Victorian Design History
Victorian architectural design was employed from about 1837 to 1901 and named for the era of Great Britain's Queen Victoria. The designs encompassed subcategories of styles executed by different architects. The most recognizable are Queen Anne styles with circular towers, decorative windows and doors, elaborately designed windows and irregular floor plans. Does this Spark an idea?
Designs
Victorian design includes elements of Italianate, Stick, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Romanesque, Shingle and Renaissance.
Origins
Victorian architecture was born during the Queen Victoria era but employed it in earlier designs, such as Greek Revival, which resulted in the overlap of many other styling elements.
Folk Victorian
The Victorian movement originated in England when homeowners built their own residences using ornamental touches of colorful gingerbread designs and wide, sweeping porches.
The Result
Victorian styling is somewhat of a mishmash of design elements that did not always follow the "form follows function" rule yet was pleasing to the eye with its eclectic approach.
U.S. Adaptation
The Victorian became popular in the U.S. in the 1880s and flourished, with Boston, St. Paul, Minnesota, and San Francisco noted for employing a dizzying array of styles.
Impact
Victorian design was a product of its time, and by 1895, an anti-Victorian movement began with such architects as H.H. Richardson and Louis Sullivan, who eschewed it by creating modern high-rises and the Beaux-Arts design.
Tags: Design History, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, Victorian Design History