Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom

Edward VII of the United Kingdom

Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...

 was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914.

Edwardian architecture is generally less ornate than high or late Victorian architecture

Victorian architecture

The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...

, apart from a subset used for major buildings known as Edwardian Baroque architecture

Edwardian Baroque architecture

The term Edwardian Baroque refers to the Neo-Baroque architectural style of many public buildings built in the British Empire during the Edwardian era ....

.

Characteristics

• Colour: lighter colours were used; the use of gas and later electric lights caused designers to be less concerned about the need to disguise soot buildup on walls compared to Victorian era
  Victorian era
  The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
  
   architecture.
• Patterns: "Decorative patterns were less complex; both wallpaper and curtain designs were more plain."
• Clutter: "There was less clutter than in the Victorian era
  Victorian era
  The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
  
   . Ornaments were perhaps grouped rather than everywhere."

Architectural influences

• Victorian
  Victorian architecture
  The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
  
  
• Art Nouveau
  Art Nouveau
  Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
  
  
• Georgian
  Georgian architecture
  Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
  
  

See also

• Edwardian era
• Edwardian Baroque architecture
  Edwardian Baroque architecture
  The term Edwardian Baroque refers to the Neo-Baroque architectural style of many public buildings built in the British Empire during the Edwardian era ....
  
  
• Federation architecture
  Federation architecture
  Federation architecture refers to the architectural style in Australia, which was prevalent from around 1890 to 1920. The period refers to the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, when the Australian colonies collectively became the Commonwealth of Australia...
  
  (Australian variant)

Further reading

• Gray, A.S., Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical Dictionary (1985).
• Long, H., The Edwardian House: The Middle-Class Home in Britain 1880-1914 (1993).
• Hockman, H.,
• Service, A., Edwardian Architecture Edwardian House Style Handbook (2007) David & Charles ISBN 0715327801 (1977) Thames & Hudson ISBN 0500181586

External links

• www.buildinghistory.org Edwardian Architecture (1901-14)
• www.bbc.co.uk Period Style: Edwardian (1901 to 1910)