Victorian architecture is a series ofarchitectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century.Victorian refers to the reign ofQueen Victoria (1837–1901), called theVictorian era, during which period the styles known as Victorian were used in construction. However, many elements of what is typically termed "Victorian" architecture did not become popular until later in Victoria's reign, roughly from 1850 and later. The styles often included interpretations andeclecticrevivals of historic styles(seehistoricism). The name represents the British and French custom of naming architectural styles for a reigning monarch. Within this naming and classification scheme, it followedGeorgian architecture and laterRegency architecture and was succeeded byEdwardian architecture.
Although Victoria did not reign over the United States, the term is often used for American styles and buildings from the same period, as well as those from theBritish Empire.
During the early 19th century, the romanticmedievalGothic Revival style was developed as a reaction to thesymmetry ofPalladianism, and such buildings asFonthill Abbey were built.[1]
By the middle of the 19th century, as a result of newtechnology, construction was able to incorporate metal materials as building components. Structures were erected withcast iron andwrought iron frames. However, due to being weak in tension, these materials were effectively phased out in place for more structurally soundsteel.[2] One of the greatest exponents ofiron frame construction wasJoseph Paxton, architect ofthe Crystal Palace. Paxton also continued to build such houses asMentmore Towers, in the still popularEnglish Renaissance styles. New methods of construction were developed in this era of prosperity, but ironically the architectural styles, as developed by such architects asAugustus Pugin, were typically retrospective.
InScotland, the architectAlexander Thomson who practised inGlasgow was a pioneer of the use ofcast iron andsteel for commercial buildings, blending neo-classical conventionality with Egyptian and Oriental themes to produce many truly original structures. Other notable Scottish architects of this period areArchibald Simpson andAlexander Marshall Mackenzie, whose stylistically varied work can be seen in thearchitecture of Aberdeen.
While Scottish architects pioneered this style it soon spread right across the United Kingdom and remained popular for another forty years. Its architectural value in preserving and reinventing the past is significant. Its influences were diverse but the Scottish architects who practiced it were inspired by unique ways to blend architecture, purpose, and everyday life in a meaningful way.
Some styles, while not uniquely Victorian, are strongly associated with the 19th century owing to the large number of examples that were erected during that period:
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During the 18th century, a few English architects emigrated to the colonies, but as theBritish Empire became firmly established during the 19th century, many architects emigrated at the start of their careers. Some chose the United States, and others went to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Normally, they applied architectural styles that were fashionable when they left England. By the latter half of the century, however, improving transport and communications meant that even remote parts of the Empire had access to publications such as the magazineThe Builder, which helped colonial architects keep informed about current fashion. Thus, the influence of English architecture spread across the world. Several prominent architects produced English-derived designs around the world, includingWilliam Butterfield (St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide) andJacob Wrey Mould (Chief Architect of Public Works inNew York City).
The Victorian period flourished in Australia and is generally recognised as being from 1840 to 1890, which saw agold rush and population boom during the 1880s in the states ofNew South Wales andVictoria. There were fifteen styles that predominated:[3]
The Arts and Crafts style and Queen Anne style are considered to be part of theFederation Period, from 1890 to 1915.[4]
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Western influence in architecture was strong whenHong Kong was aBritish colony. Victorian architecture in Hong Kong:
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Georgian architecture is more prominent in Ireland than Victorian architecture. The cities of Dublin, Limerick, and Cork are famously dominated byGeorgian squares andterraces. However, Victorian architecture flourished in certain quarters, particularly around Dublin'sWicklow Street and UpperBaggot Street, and in the suburbs ofPhibsboro,Glasnevin,Rathmines,Ranelagh,Rathgar,Rathfarnham, andTerenure. The colourfulItalianate buildings ofCobh are excellent examples of the regional Victorian style in Ireland. Further examples of Victorian architecture in the country include Dublin'sGeorge's Street Arcade, theRoyal City of Dublin Hospital on Baggot Street and theRoyal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital on Adelaide Road.
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During the British colonial period of British Ceylon:Sri Lanka Law College,Sri Lanka College of Technology,Galle Face Hotel and theRoyal College Main Building.
In the United States, 'Victorian' architecture generally describes styles that were most popular between 1860 and 1900. A list of these styles most commonly includesSecond Empire (1855–85),Stick-Eastlake (1860–c. 1890),Folk Victorian (1870–1910),Queen Anne (1880–1910),Richardsonian Romanesque (1880–1900), andShingle (1880–1900). As in the United Kingdom, examples of Gothic Revival and Italianate continued to be constructed during this period and are therefore sometimes called Victorian. Some historians classify the later years of Gothic Revival as a distinctive Victorian style named High Victorian Gothic.Stick-Eastlake, a manner of geometric, machine-cut decorating derived from Stick and Queen Anne, is sometimes considered a distinct style. On the other hand, terms such as "Painted Ladies" or "gingerbread" may be used to describe certain Victorian buildings, but do not constitute a specific style. The names of architectural styles (as well as their adaptations) varied between countries. Many homes combined the elements of several different styles and are not easily distinguishable as one particular style or another.
Notable Victorian-inspired cities during this era include,Astoria inOregon;Philadelphia andPittsburgh inPennsylvania;Washington, D.C.;Boston inMassachusetts;Alameda,Eureka,San Francisco, andMidtownSacramento inCalifornia; TheBrooklyn Heights,Forrest Hills,Park Slope,St. George, andVictorian Flatbush sections ofNew York City,Garden City,Oyster Bay, andRoslyn onLong Island, andAlbany,Troy,Buffalo, andRochester inUpstateNew York;Asbury Park /Ocean Grove,Cape May,Deal,Flemington,Freehold,Hackettstown,Jersey City /Hoboken,Madison,Metuchen,Montclair,Ridgewood,Plainfield,Summit, andWestfield inNew Jersey;Chicago,Galena, andWinnetka inIllinois;Detroit andGrand Rapids inMichigan;Cincinnati andColumbus inOhio;Galveston inTexas;Baltimore inMaryland;Louisville inKentucky;Atlanta inGeorgia;Milwaukee inWisconsin;New Orleans inLouisiana;Richmond inVirginia;St. Louis inMissouri; andSaint Paul inMinnesota.Los Angeles grew from aPueblo (village) into aVictorian Downtown – now almost entirely demolished but with residential remnants in itsAngelino Heights andWestlake neighborhoods. San Francisco is particularly well known for its extensive Victorian architecture, especially in theHaight-Ashbury,Lower Haight,Alamo Square,Western Addition,Mission,Duboce Triangle,Noe Valley,Castro,Nob Hill, andPacific Heights neighborhoods.
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The extent to which any one is the "largest surviving example" is debated, with numerous qualifications. TheDistillery District in Toronto, Ontario contains the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.[citation needed]Cabbagetown is the largest and most continuous Victorian residential area in North America.[citation needed] Other Toronto Victorian neighbourhoods includeThe Annex,Parkdale, andRosedale. In the US, theSouth End of Boston is recognized by theNational Register of Historic Places as the oldest and largest Victorian neighborhood in the country.[5][6]Old Louisville inLouisville, Kentucky, also claims to be the nation's largest Victorian neighborhood.[7][8]Richmond, Virginia is home to several large Victorian neighborhoods, the most prominent beingThe Fan. The Fan district is best known locally as Richmond's largest and most 'European' of Richmond's neighborhoods and nationally as the largest contiguous Victorian neighborhood in the United States.[9] TheOld West End neighborhood ofToledo, Ohio is recognized as the largest collection of late Victorian andEdwardian homes in the United States, east of theMississippi.[10]Summit Avenue inSaint Paul, Minnesota, has the longest line of Victorian homes in the country.Over-The-Rhine inCincinnati, Ohio, has the largest collection of early VictorianItalianate architecture in the United States,[11][12][13] and is an example of an intact 19th-century urban neighborhood.[14] According to National Register of Historic Places,Cape May Historic District has one of the largest collections of late 19th century frame buildings left in the United States.[15]
The photo albumL'Architecture Americaine byAlbert Levy published in 1886 is perhaps the first recognition in Europe of the new forces emerging in North American architecture.[16]
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![The Saitta House, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New York, built in 1899 is designed in the Queen Anne style[17]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSaitta_House_Dyker_Heights.JPG)
![Gingerbread trim on an 1882 house in Cape May, New Jersey[18][19]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCape_may_pink_victorian.jpg)
Canada'schief dominion architects designed numerous federal buildings over the course of the Victorian era.Thomas Fuller's completion of theCanadian Parliament Buildings in 1866, in particular, established a High Victorian Gothic influence over Canadian architectural design for several consecutive decades, producing many public buildings, churches, residences, industrial buildings, and hotels.[20]
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Because India was a colony of Britain, Victorian Architecture is prevalent in India, especially in cities likeMumbai, Kolkata, Kerala and Chennai. In Mumbai (Formerly called Bombay) buildings likeChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus,Municipal Corporation Building,Bombay University,Bombay High Court,Asiatic Society of Mumbai Building (Former Town Hall) and theDavid Sasoon Library are some examples of Victorian Architecture in Mumbai. In Kolkata (Formerly called Calcutta) buildings like theVictoria Memorial,Calcutta High Court,St Paul's Cathedral,Howrah railway station,The Asiatic Society of Bengal are some examples of Victorian Architecture in Kolkata. In Chennai (Formerly called Madras) some examples includeMadras High court,State Bank of Madras,Chennai Central railway station andSt. Mary's Church.[21] Many churches and colleges such asSanta Cruz Cathedral Basilica Kochi,University College Trivandrum,Government College of Fine Arts Trivandrum,Napier Museum,State Central Library of Kerala,Government Victoria College Palakkad,CMS College Kottayam andSB College Changanasserry are some of finest examples of Victorian architecture in Kerala.
Efforts to preserve landmarks of Victorian architecture are ongoing and are often led by theVictorian Society. A recent campaign the group has taken on is the preservation of Victoriangasometers after utility companies announced plans to demolish nearly 200 of the now-outdated structures.[22]
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