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Loading... Georgian Arcadia: Architecture for the Park and Gardenby Roger White
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The invention and evolution of the Georgian landscape garden liberated garden buildings from the corset of formality, allowing them to structure much more extensive areas of garden and park. One of the leading authorities on Georgian landscape architecture, Roger White explores a genre in which some of the era's greatest architects experimented with different forms, styles, and new technology. Covering not just the obvious adornments of parks and gardens such as temples, summerhouses, grottoes, towers and "follies," the book also explores structures with predominantly practical functions including mausolea, boathouses, dovecotes, stables, kennels, deer pens, barns, and cowsheds, all of which could be dressed up to make an architectural impact. White examines these structures not only architecturally but from a functional and cultural viewpoint, considering questions of stylistic origins and development. Focussing on the contributions of Britain's leading eighteenth-century architects - Vanbrugh, Hawksmoor, Gibbs, Kent, Adam, Chambers, Wyatt, and Soane - Georgian Arcadia provides a richly illustrated account of a period of innovative and diverse garden building. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)720.941The arts Architecture Architecture - modified standard subdivisions History, geographic treatment, biography Europe British Isles -- Ireland & ScotlandLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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With 18 chapters for different garden structures (lodges, bridges, temples etc), each chapter then being broadly chronological, this book can at times feel rushed, but only because the author provides so many examples, neatly describing points of interest and with an illustration for about every three to five buildings described (usually at least one illustration per page). The author has a lovely dry sense of humour that enlivens the text, which might otherwise deteriorate to a list of examples in each section after an explanation of the structure considered. As someone who has been to a reasonable number of the properties detailed, this book is a beautiful reminder of those visits, an interesting if brief guide to Georgian architectural history and an appetiser for future exploration.
Recommended if this form of art brings you joy, but the book does assume an educated layman’s knowledge of architectural terms and history to fully appreciate the text. ( )