Architecture & Web Art

Utopic Architecture and Web Design

  • Architecture
    • Administrative Buildings
    • Apartments
    • Clubs, Bars
    • Commercial Buildings
    • Day Care Centres
    • Gas Stations
    • Hospitals
    • Hotels
    • Houses
    • Museums – Pavillions
    • Office Buildings
    • Residential Buildings
    • Stadiums
    • Town Halls
    • University-School-Sport Facilities
    • Workshop, Comunity Centers
  • Interior Design
    • Lamps & Lighting
    • Bathroom Furniture
    • Living Room Furniture
  • Web Design
    • Photoshop
    • Illustrator
    • Logo Design
  • DIY
  • Concept & Proposals
  • Utopia
  • Resources
    • Architects
    • Designers
    • Interviews
You are here: Home / Architecture / Decoding Architectural Styles

Decoding Architectural Styles

December 11, 2012 by Dan

You know those moments, when someone terms like, “Victorian-style bungalow” or “Edwardian gables” or “art deco patterns” or “art nouveau designs”? When people use that on me, I feel as if the world is conspiring against me, by secretly taking ‘Hieroglyphic’ lessons. It’s embarrassing, frustrating, confusing and at times, humiliating. It’s also easy bait, real estate people use, to lure innocent architecturally challenged people. But you don’t have to endure this. I’m going to decode commonly used fancy architectural terms, for you to outsmart those smart people.

Victorian vs Edwardian style

Victorian v/s Edwardian:

To go in the literal sense, Victorian architecture means architecture that came into being during Queen Victoria’s reign- between June 1837 and January 1901. During this period, Britain was in the throes of prosperity and elite finery. Thus, Victorian Architecture is highlighted by bright colours, elegant and emotional strokes, coloured bricks and tiles. The roof of a Victorian building or home won’t slope too high, but you’ll notice pretty tall spires. Also, the window frames are heavy looking and are more often than not, made from stone. The Victorian people made no secret of the fact that they loved decorating, and this is easily evident from their architecture. Easy giveaways should be- bay windows that stick out, iron railings, patterned brickwork, stained glassed doorways and windows, slate roofs, windows that slide up and NO garage. In many places, common classifications of Victorian architecture are- Gothic and Italianate. A classic example of a Victorian structure would be the Sydney GPO.

The Edwardian architecture- coming from the era under King Edward VII- started in 1901 and went on right till the World War 1. It may be a little tricky to identify an Edwardian home, because more often than not they have hints of Art Deco and Art Nouveau, with a stroke of Victorian and a dash of Queen Anne’s coupled with a bit of Neo-Gothic. However, there are some features that make Edwardian architecture stick out from others. For one, they are a lot more spacious than the Victorian home. An ideal Edwardian home is two-storeyed and comes with great width- wide halls and even wider bay windows and glass panes, and very high ceilings. You’re sure to find a purpose-built bathroom, an almost-grand hallway adorned with a carpet of encaustic tiles and of course, the parquet flooring which is pretty much the USP of an Edwardian home. In some homes, you’ll be surprised to find quirky little additions like cosy small corners, panelled alcoves, and cushioned benches along the fireplace- thanks to the Arts & Crafts influence. From the outside, the plain red brickwork gussied up with painted wooden balconies and verandas and fancily tiled porches make an Edwardian house most easily identifiable. Because of the time in which this style came into existence, Edwardian houses show some pretty interesting mmix of qualities that can be easily fused with more contemporary styles. They form an interesting mix of architecture and that ever-beloved old-English charm.

Art Deco and Art Nouveau:

The only thing about Art Deco that most of us know is through whatever little we saw in movies like Miami Vice. Secretly, I like how artsy they sound. Though Art Deco can be said to have originated in France, its inspiration and existence can be traced back to the ancient Egyptian civilization. Art Nouveau, on the other hand, gained popularity in the 1890s.

Both Art Deco and Art Nouveau borrow design inspirations from natural elements like flowers, insects, etc. So what’s the difference between the two, apart from the second name? Well, for one, it’s the choice of natural elements used. You know you’re looking at Art Deco when you see flowers like roses, camellias and animals that symbolise speed and agility- like leaping gazelles. Art Nouveau, on the other hand, uses softer features through flowers like orchids, lilies, irises and insects like dragonflies and spiders.

Art Deco shows more of a Geometric bend with modern lines, sharp strokes, defined angles, sleek patterns and futuristic structures. Art Deco structures can be seen as a simile for an era embracing the machine age. A perfect example of Art Deco in modern architecture is the monumental Bacardi Building in Miami. In contrast, Art Nouveau is all about the abstract and the whimsical. The main idea of Art Nouveau design was to incorporate art into everyday objects- for instance a door-knocker shaped like a dragonfly. Art Nouveau is characterized by flowing lines, rhythmic curves and a silent resistance to the classical ball and chain. What exemplifies Art Nouveau? Check any building from the central district of Riga.

Feel architecturally enlightened now? Well, you can rest assured when that Smarty-pants starts these discussions again, at least it won’t sound ‘Hieroglyphic’ anymore.

Barbara Woodberry, the author of this article is an avid reader. She loves reading books of all genre. She works as an editor for a website called the magazinesubscriptions.com, which provides its customers with the cheapest and the best deals in magazine subscriptions.

Filed Under: Architecture Tagged With: architectural design, Architecture, art deco, art nouveau, edwardian, home design, House Design, victorian

About Dan

Dan Fargo,the editor-in-chief of Archtopia, an online magazine dedicated to architects and designers.

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture (Hardcover) | Review

Islamic Azad University Science And Reserch Unit – Competition

Eichler House : Mid-Century Modern Home Renovation Done Right

Warm up Your Home Decor with Western Decorating Touches

Earth, Wood & Steel High-Desert Home – A Modern Rustic

Metal Art for Cutting Edge Kitchen Style

China’s Stunning New Sustainable Stadium – Dalian Shide

iPhone voted coolest brand in UK

Sensor Tower Review

Adding Southwestern Flair with Wall Art

Love Your Nursery For Longer Than Baby’s First Year

Color Snap

3 Must Have Applications For Interior Designers and Architects

Artek

FREE 3D Models From Manufacturers – Part III

Schematic Wall Design – Lammhults Airflake

15+ of The Best Living Rooms

Black Metal Wall Decor

Black Metal Wall Decor: Bold and Dramatic

Circle - De Padova

De Padova | Circle Lamp

Outdoor Themes that Work Indoors

John Wardle Architects + Office dA – University of Melbourne Announces Winners

INNOCAD – Rose am Lend

SEARCH

Recent Comments

  • a on PizzaKobra by Ron Arad – Flexible Table Lamp
  • http://evasi0ns.org/ on The 15 Greatest Beds: Past and Present
  • Smithg117 on Interior Design CA Colleges
  • best computer screen recording software on 101 Inspirational Quotes from Famous Architects and Artists
  • free web traffic links bonus #1 on 3 Great Ways to Decorate Your Home with Metal

Copyright © · Architecture and Web Art