CLASSICAL BRITISH ARCHITECTURE

What Is Classical Architecture? Classical architecture originated in ancient Greece and Rome, and is characterized by symmetry, columns, rectangular windows, and marble, to name a few. For centuries, architects have drawn influence from these civilizations and incorporated traditional ideals into subsequent styles of architecture. In a broad sense, Classical architecture can encompass all architecture that is derived from the ancient Greeks and Romans. For our purposes, the Classical Revival movement is the most true-to-form style of classical architecture that exists today. . Classical architecture came to Britain with the Romans two millennia ago. Elements of classicism re-emerged early in the 16th century in Henry VII’s tomb at Westminster and under Elizabeth I (to name but two examples) at Longleat and Caius, Cambridge. Four hundred years ago, Inigo Jones introduced the classical style of the so callecdItalian Renaissance in an unadulterated form. Certainly the classical style has deeper roots than modernism – a mere 80 or so years old in the UK History Classical architecture was constructed in the 5th century BC in Greece and around the 3rd century AD in Rome. The style was revived many times over the years. 

During the Italian Renaissance, architects worked to restore classical Roman architecture. John Nash (18 January 1752 – 13 May 1835) was one of the foremost British architects of the Georgian and Regency eras, during which he was responsible for the design, in the neoclassical and picturesque styles, of many important areas of London. His designs were financed by the Prince Regent and by the era's most successful property developer, James Burton. Nash also collaborated extensively with Burton's son, Decimus Burton. Nash's best-known solo designs are the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, Marble Arch, and Buckingham Palace. His best-known collaboration with James Burton is Regent Street and his best-known collaborations with Decimus Burton are Regent's Park and its terraces and Carlton House Terrace. The majority of his buildings, including those that the Burtons did not contribute to, were built by James Burton's company. 

 THE NASH TERRACES Regent’s Park, park in the Greater London boroughs of Westminster and Camden. It occupies an area of 487 acres (197 hectares) north and east of the St. Marylebone district. Originally a part of Henry VIII’s hunting forest, Regent’s Park was developed and landscaped (in the 1810s and ’20s) by the city planner and architect John Nash as an area of leisure for the royal family and other aristocrats. It was opened to the public by 1841 and is one of the main parks of central London.Its Inner Circle and Outer Circle drives are surrounded by elegant row houses and mansions built by nash, now largely used as government offices and educational buildings. Within the Inner Circle drive are the Queen Mary’s Gardens (roses) and an open-air theatre. The London Zoo was opened on the north side of the park in 1828. Regent Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London. It is named after George, the Prince Regent (later George IV) and was laid out under the direction of the architect John Nash and James Burton. It runs from Waterloo Place in St James's at the southern end, through Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus, to All Souls Church. From there Langham Place and Portland Place continue the route to Regent's Park. The vast majority of the street was designed by Nash or Burton. However, a few buildings were designed by Charles Robert Cockerell, Sir John Soane, or others. By 1819, the Crown was receiving regular rent and the street was becoming established. At first, it was named New Street and became a dividing line between Soho, which had declined socially and economically, and the fashionable squares and streets of Mayfair to the west. Carlton House was demolished after completion of the works in 1829 and was replaced by Carlton House Terrace, designed by Nash and the son of James Burton, Decimus Burton. Regent Street was the first shopping area in Britain to support late night opening in 1850, when shopkeepers agreed to keep stores open until 7pm 

 THE ROYAL PAVILION The Royal Pavilion, also known as the Brighton Pavilion and a former royal residence located in Brighton, England. Beginning in 1787, it was built in three stages as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became the Prince Regent in 1811, and King George IV in 1820. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century. The current appearance of the Pavilion, with its domes and minarets, is the work of architect John Nash, who extended the building starting in 1815. George IV's successors William IV, and Victoria, also used the Pavilion, but Queen Victoria decided that Osborne House should be the royal seaside retreat, and the Pavilion was sold to the city of Brighton in 1850. The Architecture style of the Pavilion was a blend of Indian, Mughal, European, and Chinese architecture. The elements were a derivation of the design forms and motifs taken from the British colonial experience of the orient.The domes and minarets found on the exterior of the Royal Pavilion were inspired by Oriental scenery, the collection of drawings by Thomas Daniell, and William Daniell. Although the exterior had the elements of Indian architecture, it had a more Mughal touch with a generic sense of orient. The building had a sense of lightness and airiness due to the rhythmic profusion of the domes and minarets which were supported by the cast iron frames and the vertical thrust. The Prince of Wales, who later became George IV, first visited Brighton in 1783, at the age of 21. The seaside town had become fashionable as a result of the residence of George's uncle, Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland, whose tastes for fine cuisine, gambling, the theatre, and general fast living the young prince shared, and with whom he lodged in Brighton at Grove House. In addition, the Prince of Wales was advised by his physician that the seawater and fresh air would be beneficial for his gout. In 1786, under a financial cloud with investigation by Parliament for the extravagances incurred in building Carlton House, London, the Prince rented a modest, erstwhile farmhouse facing the Old Steine, a grassy area of Brighton used as a promenade by visitors. Remote from the Royal Court in London, the Pavilion was a discreet location for the Prince to enjoy private liaisons with his long-time companion, Maria Fitzherbert. Maria Fitzherbert

The Prince had wished to marry her, and did so in secrecy as her Roman Catholic religion prohibited his marrying her under the Royal Marriages Act 1772. Chiswick House was an attempt by Lord Burlington to create a Roman villa, rather than a Renaissance pastiche, situated in a symbolic Roman garden. Chiswick Villa is inspired in part by several buildings of the 16th-century Italian architects Andrea Palladio and his assistant Vincenzo Scamozzi. The brick-built Villa's facade is faced in Portland stone, with a small amount of stucco. The finely carved Corinthian capitals on the projecting six-column portico, carved by John Boson, are derived from the Temple of Castor and Pollux in Rome. The inset door, projecting plinth and 'v'-necked rusticated vermiculation (resembling tufa) were all derived from the base of Trajan's Column. The short sections of crenellated wall with ball finials which extend out either side of the villa were symbolic of medieval (or Roman) fortified town walls, and were inspired by their use by Palladio at his church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice and by Inigo Jones (1573–1652)