The Georgian style in architecture is called the building elements and forms that existed from the beginning of the 18th to the thirties of the 19th century. This period coincides with the era called Georgian by the names of the first four British monarchs of the Hanover dynasty, whom I to IV were called Georgians. Their alternate rule lasted from August 1714 to June 1830.
In the United States, the term “Georgian house” is commonly used to describe all buildings of that period, regardless of style. English architecture, as a rule, is limited to buildings with typical characteristics for that time. The Georgian trend in the United States has been revived since the end of the 19th century as neocolonial architecture. At the beginning of the 20th century, the style reappears in Great Britain under the name of Neo-Georgian.
Early transition
Long tours of Europe at that time were very common for wealthy English, because Italian art and culture for a long time dominated British styles. The influence of English Baroque continued throughout the 1720s, gradually giving way to the more restrained lines of Georgian architecture.
One of the first designers of the transition period was the famous British architect James Gibbs. His early Baroque buildings reflected his time in Rome in the early 18th century, but after 1720 he began to noticeably lean towards moderate classical forms. The main architects who also contributed to the development of Georgian architecture were Colene Campbell, 3rd Earl of Burlington, Richard Boyle, and his protege William Kent; Henry Flitcroft and the Venetian Giacomo Leoni, who spent most of his career in England. Other prominent early Gregorian architects are James Payne, Robert Taylor and John Wood.
Heyday
The directions that led to the prosperity of the Georgian style in architecture and became its integral parts belong to several categories. These are configurations similar to those of the late Renaissance in the spirit of Andrea Palladio with classical forms and proportions. Also, elements of the Gothic and even the Chinese style of chinoiserie (the equivalent of European Rococo), which was fascinated by the whole English-speaking world.
Since the mid-1760s, the range of neoclassicism has expanded significantly and has become the most fashionable. Starting from about 1750, Georgian architecture was supplemented by neoclassical architecture, oriented towards ancient Greek examples. But since this trend has grown in popularity after 1800, it has stood out in an independent style. Leading examples in the so-called “Greek taste” are the projects of William Wilkins and Robert Smirke.
Famous British architects of that period are Robert Adam, James Gibbs, Sir William Chambers, James Wyatt, George Dance Jr., Henry Holland. John Nash was one of the most prolific architects of the late Gregorian era, known as the Regency style, corresponding to the reign of George IV. Nash was responsible for designing large areas of London.
The brightest examples of American colonial architecture in the Georgian era can be called Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the College of William and Mary.
Style spread
Since the mid-18th century, the training of the profession of an architect as a hotel qualification has been increasing, until then anyone who could cope with primitive drawings and the construction process was called such a specialist in Britain. Therefore, the residential structures of the Georgian period are contrastingly different from earlier houses that were built by craftsmen with experience gained through the direct apprenticeship system. However, a considerable part of the later buildings were still being erected jointly by landowners and builders. And the style features and design of Georgian architecture were widely distributed through illustrated books with diagrams and drawings, as well as inexpensive engravings. One of these prolific authors of such print products from 1723 to 1755 was William Halfpenny, who publishes publications in America and the United Kingdom.
After 1750, a large-scale expansion of urban development in the UK was noted, which favored the popularization of the Georgian style in architecture. Landowners turned into developers, and the rows of houses of the same type with terraces became the usual layout for free plots. Even wealthy citizens preferred to live in such urban houses, especially if in front of them was a square of a garden or square. Construction standards were generally high, and during this period a huge number of buildings were erected throughout the English-speaking world. Where these houses have survived two centuries or more, they still make up a significant part of the urban core, for example, in London, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh.
Features
In architecture, the Georgian style varies markedly, but differs in strict symmetry, balance and classical proportions, in which the mathematical ratio of height to width was used. This correspondence concerned the dimensions of facades, windows, doors and was based on the ancient architecture of Greece and Rome, revived during the Renaissance. Exterior decoration was usually also within the classical tradition, but it was used rather restrained, and sometimes completely absent. Another feature of Georgian architecture is its uniform repeatability. This is especially noticeable in the arrangement of identical windows and in a stone, evenly embroidered masonry, which emphasized a sense of balance and symmetry.
Since the mid-18th century, elements and features of the Georgian style have been designated by architectural terms, which have become an integral part of the training of every architect, designer, builder, carpenter, mason and plasterer from Edinburgh (Scotland) to Maryland (eastern United States).
Materials
In Britain, stone or brick, which was often covered with plaster, was almost always used. The roofs were mainly covered with clay tiles until the 1st Baron Penrin, Richard Pennant, expanded the shale industry in Wales from the 1760s, after which slate roofing became the usual material by the end of the century.
In America and other colonies, wood was the most abundant, as it seemed to be the most affordable and least expensive compared to other materials. Even the columns were made from logs processed on large-sized lathes. Stone and brick were used in large cities or where it could be obtained locally.
Residential buildings
In the exterior of the suburban houses of England, modifications of the architectural direction of Palladio (later Renaissance) prevailed. Buildings are often housed in magnificent landscapes. Large manor houses were mostly wide and seemed somewhat squat and looked more impressive from afar. In large-scale majestic buildings, the highest central part with lower side structures stood out.
A roof without an ornament, except for the balustrade and the upper part of the pediment, was usually low, however, domes were erected in more magnificent and expensive buildings. Columns, as well as pilasters, often ended with a neo-Greek pediment and were considered popular elements of both external and external decor in the architecture of private houses of Georgian style. Plaster geometric or floral ornament did not contain human figures. However, sculpture was used in luxurious buildings like statues of the late Renaissance. Both in residential and other houses, the windows were placed in rhythmic order and were large. They were not easy to open, and by the 1670s, special window sashes had been developed, which became very common.
Churches
The British Anglican churches were built in order to provide the best visibility and audibility during the sermon, so the main (often the only one) nave with side passages became shorter and wider than in earlier temples. In the suburbs of England, the external character of the temples often retained the familiar appearance of a Gothic building with a tower, bell tower or spire, large windows rhythmically located along the nave, a large western pediment, where there was one or several doors, but still there was a classic ornament. Where sufficient funds were available, a classical portico with columns ending in a pediment was attached from the western facade. These principles and configurations were also repeated in the British colonies. The non-conformist churches of England looked more modest - usually they did not erect towers or belfries.
An example of a Georgian church is St. Martin's Church in London (1720), in which James Gibbs erected a tower with a large spire over the classical facade. This configuration initially shocked the public, but in the end became generally accepted and was widely copied both in England and in the colonies. A similar example was the church of St. Andrew of the city of Chennai in India.
The final period
The neoclassic of the Georgian direction remained popular even after 1840. In the rivalry between the architectural styles of the early Victorian era, she resisted neo-Gothic. In Canada, Tory-colonists adopted Georgian architecture as one of the signs of their devotion to the UK, because the style prevailed in the country until the mid-19th century. Immediately after the United States gained independence, a federal style spread throughout the country, which in essence was an analogue of the buildings of the regency. Georgian architecture was revived several times, for example, in the early 20th century and 1950s. And some prominent architects of the USA and Great Britain work in this direction for private residences today.