Monday, June 18, 2007

Romantic Architecture

I thought we'd talk a little about Architecture this week. I've been fascinated by the subject for as long as I can remember; sketching homes since I was a child of about 10 or 11. Detailed floor plans began to enter my mind at about 14 or 15 years of age and I was determined to make a career from this interest in some way. Life did not work out quite the way I'd planned and motherhood took a front seat to other dreams, but did not diminish my quest for learning everything I could about Romantic Victorian dwellings, inside and out.

I quote from one of my favorite authors on the subject, Rickard Bailey......

Few periods of architecture have received as much attention and spawned as many devotees as the 70 years from 1840 to 1919 known as the Victorian Era. Named after Queen Victoria, who enjoyed an uncommonly long reign (1837 - 1901), this period captures the imagination of so many people because so much seemed to change and blossom over its duration. Even though the architecture of the time had its antecedents in the Gothic Revival that began a few years earlier, it is the Victorian Era that most people embrace because it epitomizes what had been lacking or stale in architecture for hundreds of years: liveliness, whimsy and, above all, freedom of expression.

Like most movements that develop and evolve over a broad expanse of time, no single individual or event seemed to drive the Victorian Revolution. Rather, a series of stirrings, ideas and concepts - aided by technology - pushed the movement from one stage to another until it reached a grand climax near the end of the century.

The Victorian Era had a long, full flower of nearly 70 years. The emotional appeal of this family of fanciful, delicate, decorative architectural styles was so strong that it took the harsh realities of a World War and the nihilism of the 1920s to dispel it. Yet, the romance of the era never really died. Whenever society has too much of modern technology, warfare or rampant commercialism, it inevitably recycles itself back to an era that is quieter, softer and more romantic.

Grand Victorian Style is, after all, one of those rare pleasures that must be experienced more with the heart than with the intellect - to be viewed and appreciated without regard to cost, reason or rationale. Victorians exist simply to be admired and loved - one of the last, great romantic adventures in Architecture!

Tomorrow we will take an in-depth look at the Queen Anne Style homes of the High Victorian Period.....my favorite.






8 comments:

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

A pink house,,,,ahhhhhhh I love it. Can''t wait to learn more!
Ele

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

Bertie I love reading your blog!
So much to learn!
I am in love with big ole victorian houses!
My dream is to live in one again some day!

Thank you so much for such a beautiful place to visit!

hugz, Dolly

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

Bertie I love reading your blog!
So much to learn!
I am in love with big ole victorian houses!
My dream is to live in one again some day!

Thank you so much for such a beautiful place to visit!

hugz, Dolly

vickie said...

I'm loving reading all your Victorian history. The houses are so pretty.
thanks, vickie

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Wonderful homes, Bertie. Are they in your area? Look forward to reading more soon!

Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh, I LOVE these houses, especially the pink one! It is my dream to have a house like this and turn it into a B&B!

Thank you so much for all the information on the Victorian history.

Hugs,
Amy

Heather ~ Pretty Petals said...

Bertie! Oh how I love that pink house! I can just imagine what it would be like to live there...maybe if I wish hard enough....

Love this post! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Heather

Lori said...

Well you sure swept many of us off our feet with the pink house!!! have you ever visited Copshaholm in S.B. or Ruthmere in Elkhart? Take care, Lori