From the 19th century until the Great War (World War I) London lived in the Victorian and Edwardian period. In contrast to the Georgian period, the Victorian era was one filled with turmoil, change and disruption. Also, with new transportation, the materials changed and terra-cotta, iron, steel were available via boat and train. Although there was turmoil, this was Britain's highest point as the world superpower due to trade bringing enormous wealth to individuals and the government. However, as a product of this massive wealth, poverty was at an all time high and at its worse. With all of their power, London went through a renaissance and gothic revival along with other stylistic revivals as well.
Our first stop was at the Albert Memorial.
This was built in the 1860's and early 1870's as a memorial to Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria. Although not initially popular, Prince Albert gained fame and respect from the people due to his philanthropic involvement with the people and the city. He was a progressive mind and brought universal education and welfare to London. Done by George Gilbert Scott, this is a gothic revival and is meant to look like a medieval shrine. The sculptures around depict the four continents England had power over: India, America, Europe and Africa.
Across from this is Royal Albert Hall. It is a public concert hall that seats 8,000 people and was inspired by the roman amphitheaters and is made of terra-cotta and brick in a way to resemble the Italian Renaissance.
Our next stop in "Albertropolis" was Albert Hall Mansions. These are housing flats built to surround Royal Albert Hall. They are a transition from the old style terraced house to the new flat model. At the time they were built, 1870-1880, they were a novelty in London. Built by Richard Shaw, they housed the wealthy middle class.
Stylistically, they have some of the Queen Anne model with bright red brick and tall windows with curved heads. They are also influenced by 17th century Dutch housing by being tall, narrow with big gables.
Our next stop took us to school - The Imperial College of Science and Music.
The college is a baroque revival with its big bold pediments and fine details. The red building is part gothic as it stretches into the sky ending in a point and part French. This is a good example of the many styles architects could choose from when building in the Victorian period.
We then walked over to the Natural History Museum. Build by Alfred Waterhouse in the 1870's. It is terra-cotta and you can see all the different colors on the building which is a sign of the Victorian period. They loved colors built into their buildings. Also, there are byzantine and romanesque styles with a little bit of a gothic influence in the spires. The Romanesque touches are on the German side and can been seen in the round arches over windows.
Our next stop was a museum as well. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A Museum).
This is the museum for the applied arts and crafts from London and the rest of the world. It truly is a storehouse for artistic ideas and the actual concepts that the artists dreamt up. The facade was built in 1900 and is by Anstin Webb. It is Victorian and has a mixture of different styles including: Italian Renaissance, English Renaissance and bits of gothic.
Inside you can see the cafetera and it shows all the colors typical of Victorian architecture and art. It is made of terra-cotta, painted tiles, rococo styles and is very busy.
We next headed over to the Brompton Oratory. When it was built in the 1880's it was the biggest Roman Catholic church in London. Constructed by Herbert Gribble, this building is in an Italian style and is an example of the Baroque revival movement.
Next we went to the Samuel Lewis Trust Housing. This was the public housing of the time and was built in the slum area's to give the poor a better way of life. They were made to be affordable so people could pay for their own way off the streets and are slightly Queen Anne style and slightly Baroque style. They were built in an attempt to improve the social conditions in London.
We then moved onto James Savage's St. Luke's Church, built in the 1820's.
We then proceded to the Chelsea Townhall. Built in the 1900's in English baroque style, slightly resembling Christopher Wren's work, this municipal government building has a wonderful portico. It was the first time Chelsea had a building so the local counsel could have a meeting place to make decisions. Also, the library was here.
Our last physical location in the Kensington and Chelsea area were the Artist Studios. Because Chelsea had a large artist community, houses had to be made to accomodate their needs. The studios had very tall North facing windows and open upstairs areas for all their work. In addition to this, the studios were art themselves. They were asymmetrical, had the front in the back and vice versa and were unique and different by design. Webb and Morris were the big architects of this "arts and crafts" style of architecture.
The final thing discussed on this day was English Innovation. On the western end of the Thames, engineers built and embankment. They needed this because they wanted a road to run from the city to St. Paul's. Joseph Bazalgette, the engineer behind all of this, did an excellent job solving sanitation, population and traffic issues with one simple solution - an Embankment.
Our first stop was at the Albert Memorial.
This was built in the 1860's and early 1870's as a memorial to Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria. Although not initially popular, Prince Albert gained fame and respect from the people due to his philanthropic involvement with the people and the city. He was a progressive mind and brought universal education and welfare to London. Done by George Gilbert Scott, this is a gothic revival and is meant to look like a medieval shrine. The sculptures around depict the four continents England had power over: India, America, Europe and Africa.
Across from this is Royal Albert Hall. It is a public concert hall that seats 8,000 people and was inspired by the roman amphitheaters and is made of terra-cotta and brick in a way to resemble the Italian Renaissance.
Our next stop in "Albertropolis" was Albert Hall Mansions. These are housing flats built to surround Royal Albert Hall. They are a transition from the old style terraced house to the new flat model. At the time they were built, 1870-1880, they were a novelty in London. Built by Richard Shaw, they housed the wealthy middle class.
Stylistically, they have some of the Queen Anne model with bright red brick and tall windows with curved heads. They are also influenced by 17th century Dutch housing by being tall, narrow with big gables.
Our next stop took us to school - The Imperial College of Science and Music.
The college is a baroque revival with its big bold pediments and fine details. The red building is part gothic as it stretches into the sky ending in a point and part French. This is a good example of the many styles architects could choose from when building in the Victorian period.
We then walked over to the Natural History Museum. Build by Alfred Waterhouse in the 1870's. It is terra-cotta and you can see all the different colors on the building which is a sign of the Victorian period. They loved colors built into their buildings. Also, there are byzantine and romanesque styles with a little bit of a gothic influence in the spires. The Romanesque touches are on the German side and can been seen in the round arches over windows.
Our next stop was a museum as well. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A Museum).
This is the museum for the applied arts and crafts from London and the rest of the world. It truly is a storehouse for artistic ideas and the actual concepts that the artists dreamt up. The facade was built in 1900 and is by Anstin Webb. It is Victorian and has a mixture of different styles including: Italian Renaissance, English Renaissance and bits of gothic.
Inside you can see the cafetera and it shows all the colors typical of Victorian architecture and art. It is made of terra-cotta, painted tiles, rococo styles and is very busy.
We next headed over to the Brompton Oratory. When it was built in the 1880's it was the biggest Roman Catholic church in London. Constructed by Herbert Gribble, this building is in an Italian style and is an example of the Baroque revival movement.
Next we went to the Samuel Lewis Trust Housing. This was the public housing of the time and was built in the slum area's to give the poor a better way of life. They were made to be affordable so people could pay for their own way off the streets and are slightly Queen Anne style and slightly Baroque style. They were built in an attempt to improve the social conditions in London.
We then moved onto James Savage's St. Luke's Church, built in the 1820's.
We then proceded to the Chelsea Townhall. Built in the 1900's in English baroque style, slightly resembling Christopher Wren's work, this municipal government building has a wonderful portico. It was the first time Chelsea had a building so the local counsel could have a meeting place to make decisions. Also, the library was here.
Our last physical location in the Kensington and Chelsea area were the Artist Studios. Because Chelsea had a large artist community, houses had to be made to accomodate their needs. The studios had very tall North facing windows and open upstairs areas for all their work. In addition to this, the studios were art themselves. They were asymmetrical, had the front in the back and vice versa and were unique and different by design. Webb and Morris were the big architects of this "arts and crafts" style of architecture.
The final thing discussed on this day was English Innovation. On the western end of the Thames, engineers built and embankment. They needed this because they wanted a road to run from the city to St. Paul's. Joseph Bazalgette, the engineer behind all of this, did an excellent job solving sanitation, population and traffic issues with one simple solution - an Embankment.
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