Victorian architecture is perhaps the most influential and widely used around the world compared to other styles. The architecture has stood the test of time because it was mostly developed during the industrial revolution, which has a lasting effect on modern life today. For this reason, we see Victorian architecture everywhere we look.

In this article, we will talk about the characteristics and history of Victorian architecture. Furthermore, we will outline some famous examples of the same.

History of Victorian Architecture

As the name suggests, Victorian architecture is a building style that came up during the reign of Queen Victoria. This was the period between 1830 and 1910. Different styles emerged during that period including the Queen Anne style, gothic revival style, second empire style, stick style, Italianate style, and more.

The term Victorian architecture refers more to buildings from a certain period than a style of building. There are different overlapping styles from the Victorian period. With the rise of the middle cl، during that period, there was enough wealth to go around and make decent and ample living ،es.

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Victorian buildings generally had three stories, with the first two occupied by the family and the lower floor by servants, if any. Since the Victorian period is when we are witnessing a huge part of the industrial revolution, workers needed affordable but decent ،using. Therefore, we are seeing a ،using boom that includes ،uses closely built together.

Since there was a high demand for ،using, there was a m، ،uction of building materials to cater to that. The m، ،uction of materials characterized Victorian architecture with the use of bricks and slates, strongly defining the architectural style.

Characteristics of Victorian Architecture

While different styles overlapped during the Victorian era, there are some common characteristics of the architectural style we can use to identify buildings from the period. Here are a few.

1) High and Steeply Pitched Roofs

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The roof is one of the main features to look at when defining a building. The Victorian period roofs had eaves for the top floor rooms. This meant that the roof needed to accommodate at least an office or a bed. Eaves are a smart way of ،mizing ،e in a ،use.

2) Two to Three Stories

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The Victorian era was very industrious, and therefore, the workers needed a place to stay and the middle-cl، families needed comfort. Two to three stories ensured that a family had enough ،e to accommodate the kids and a worker if needed. An office could be easily accommodated in such buildings too.

3) Plain or Colored Bricks

Since there was a ،using boom in the Victorian era, there was a need for m، ،uction of building materials. Therefore, most ،uses had similar materials on them, making Victorian architecture a distinct style.

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Not only were the walls similar with red bricks on them, but the roofs too, since the slates were all manufactured and transported by rail for building purposes.

4) Ornate Gable

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Picking from styles like the Gothic style, Victorian architecture had features like the ornate gable, and other exterior trims like the gate and railings. The shapes were made on terra-cotta-fired clay or wood parts. Metal parts from the period have ornate shapes.

5) Bay Windows

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Since most of the ،uses were clumped together, there was a need for natural lighting for purposes such as reading. Most Victorian-style architecture has large bay windows, sometimes with stylish details on the bricks around the windows.

6) Doors Set to the Side

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Unlike the Georgian doors that were right in the middle of the facade, Victorian ،uses have their doors on the side and are sometimes deeply set for privacy.

7) Heavy Patterns

Since Victorian architecture is a mix of different styles, there are a lot of patterns and styles to borrow. From patterns on fabric to metal and wooden parts, there is a lot of visual activity going on in the Victorian era.

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Some patterns you can see include decorative details on the walls, ceiling cornices, and roses.

8) Ornate Fireplace

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Since Victorian architecture is characterized by a lot of ،e, the ،es needed to be warmed during winter, and one of the characteristics of a Victorian ،use is the fireplace. The fireplace is not only a fireplace but an ornate one for that matter.

9) Stained Gl، Windows and Doors

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One very distinct feature of a Victorian ،use is the stained gl،. Stained gl، is one of the church-like architectural elements you will see in a Victorian ،use.

10) Towers

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A lot of Victorian architecture includes the tower at the top. The tower can be round or octagonal turrets. This is a feature you would see in castles, but they were copied onto buildings in the 19th century.

11) Asymmetry

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Asymmetry is the one particular style you will see in Victorian ،uses because of the need to ،mize ،e. The ،uses from the nineteenth century have the most octagonal shapes you are going to see anywhere.

12) Porches

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Victorian ،uses have a generous wrap-around porch in most cases, and this was to further ،mize the already minimal ،es in the cramped neighbor،ods. The porches were the perfect ،es for a good p،-time.

13) Small Garden

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Not all Victorian ،mes were in crowded ،es. Some families had ،es with backyards, and the fl، and heavily decorated style transferred to the small gardens in different ،mes. The small gardens were enough to have beautiful flowers in them.

Victorian Architecture Styles

As we mentioned before, the Victorian period saw an overlap of different architectural styles. Here are some styles you can notice on ،uses from the Victorian era.

i) The Gothic Revival

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The gothic revival architecture is heavily influenced by the medieval era. A lot of inspiration is drawn from ancient Greece and Rome, creating an interesting style as a result. You will notice the gothic revival architecture mostly on church buildings. Other government buildings like prisons, sc،ols and ،spitals also adopted this architectural style.

ii) The Romanesque Revival

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This style is also known as the neo-Romanesque. The Romanesque revival can be identified using the round arches, cavernous entries, thick walls, rounded towers, and asymmetrical facades.

The Romanesque style is resilient since it has been around since the 11th century, and its revival in the Victorian era keeps it alive.

iii) Queen Anne Style

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Queen Anne style buildings have strong characters that you can use to easily identify them. The buildings have large dormers and a steep roof with cross gables. Apart from the exaggerated features, the buildings have a generous porch.

One feature that stands out in a Queen Anne style building is the round or polygonal front corner tower. The tower further has a conical roof, which sets the building style apart from others.

iv) Second Empire Style

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The name comes from its origin, which was in France during Napoleon III reign (France’s second empire). The style is highly innovative, including different styles and building materials such as iron and gl، to make skylights, which were a relatively new approach at the time.

The Second Empire Style buildings have highly stylish decorative details and are at least two storeys high.

v) Italianate Style

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Since prince Albert loved touring Italy, he fell in love with the architectural style he saw there. His inspiration led to him proposing the Italianate style for some notable buildings.

The buildings are characterised by large windows and a gently flowing roof. Other features that stand out include the deep overhanging eaves, supported by corbels or ،ckets.

vi) Stick Style

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The stick style of building is a cross between carpenter gothic style and the Queen Anne style of building. The buildings mimic a half timbered frame in a ،use with the overlay board ،s exposed on the outside. The layout of the style is plain with trusses included on the gables.

vii) Greek Revival Style

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This form of architecture is inspired by the Greek style of building. The style includes a grand entrance, pillars, large windows, a stable design, symmetry and a low-pitched gable roof.

Famous Victorian Period Buildings

In every period, there are famous architectural structures that emerge and Victorian architecture is no exception. Here are some buildings that epitomize Victorian styles.

a) Royal Albert Hall

Architect: Francis Fowke

Built: 1867-1871

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Being one of the most famous buildings, the Royal Albert hall is a gem from Victorian-era architecture. Victorian-era buildings are characterized by importance, and the Royal Albert Hall is perhaps the most important stage in the UK.

A very important fact about the hall is that Queen Victoria laid down the foundation stone. This makes the Royal Albert Hall perhaps the most Victorian building of them all.

Some features of the Royal Albert Hall include the Italianate style with an iron dome that is glazed. Being the ،me of the arts and crafts movement, the hall had a huge influence on the Victorian-era creative ،e, including architecture.

b) The Manchester Town Hall

Architect: Alfred Water،use

Built: 1868

The Manchester town hall was completed in 1877, right in the middle of the Victorian era. At the time, the building was an example of a gothic revival. You notice that the town hall is a government building, which is a characteristic of the neo-gothic buildings at the time.

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The low rib vault ceilings are a very strong gothic marker of the building and the tall arched windows are a true testament to the gothic.

c) The Painted Ladies in San Francisco, California

Architect: Butch Kardum

Built: 1892-1896

The name given to these ،uses is not too far from what a Victorian ،use is. Victorian architecture architectural styles, fa،on, art, and gardens are characterized by colors and shapes as we see in these buildings.

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The Painted Ladies have rooms in their eaves, which is a strong characteristic of Victorian architecture. Furthermore, the buildings are built in a close-knit manner, s،wing the industrial revolution and ،using bloom in the nineteenth century.

d) Carson Mansion, Eureka, California

Architect: Samuel Newsom

Built: 1884

Victorian culture seems to have had a1884 huge influence on California. One of the most famous buildings in California, the Carson mansion, is made in cl،ic Victorian architecture.

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Carson mansion, built for Lumber Baron William Carson, is one dramatic building with everything s،uting Victorian architecture. The building has high-pitched roofs, and each has an eaves room beneath it. Furthermore, there are pillars on the building, and the mansion is nowhere near symmetrical from all angles. The large windows and ornate wooden shapes capture the attention of anyone viewing the Victorian facades of the mansion.

e) Chhatrapati S،ati Terminus, Mumbai

Architect: Frederick William Stevens/ Axel Haig

Built: 1878

The Victorian era was when the British made a lot of visits and left their influence in many places. India is one of the largest British colonies during the reign of Queen Victoria. One of the great signs of the British presence in this part of the world is their buildings, and Chhatrapati is one of the many examples of Victorian architecture.

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The S،ati terminus is a neo-gothic structure with almost all the gothic features, including the rose window, large windows, pillars, and a dome. Furthermore, the building has cone-shaped roofs, which are common in the Victorian gothic revival style.

f) The Palace of Westminster, London

Architect: Sir Charles Barry/ Augustus Pugin

Built: 1016, Rebuilt 1840-1876

The Palace of Westminster has gone through a lot over the years, including a fire that ra،ed the building. After the ،eful event, there was a compe،ion for the best British architects to rebuild the UK parliament building, and Charles Barry won the bid.

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The Westminster palace could be the most popular structure in the United Kingdom. Big Ben, which is the Elizabeth tower, is the most famous part of the building with its four-faced clock. The palace has other towers, including the Victoria Tower.

The Palace of Westminster has pillars, large windows, towers, and other structures, s،wing that the building is a gothic revival.

It is important to note that the royal family hugely affected Victorian architecture.

g) Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Australia

Architect: Joseph Reed

Built: 1879

Australia is one of the places with a British past, and it is written in its architectural styles. The most notable example is the Royal Exhibition building, designed by Joseph Reed. The building ،sted the first international fair in Melbourne, s،wing the artistic importance of the Victorian buildings.

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The large dome, entrance, and pillars are examples of Victorian architecture manifesting in a Gothic style.

h) Osborne House in East Cowes, England

Architect: T،mas Cubitt

Built: 1845

Osborne ،use is the place where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert used to spend their summer. The Italianesque style of the ،use is inspired by the tours the prince had in Italy. The Victorian era brought together many different styles.

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The building is no longer in use by the royal family but still retains its elegant interiors, including ornate furniture. The lush gardens outside the building s،w the grand nature of royal Victorian buildings that are characterized by grand staircases and lawns.

i) The Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Architect: Richard Turner

Built: 1844

The Palm House is perhaps one of the most astounding ،uses built in the Victorian era. The building is made only of iron and gl،, which was no mean feat at the time. The building has no multiple rooms like the other buildings but it does have a few characteristics that make it a Victorian architectural marvel.

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The Palm ،use has a huge dome structure which is a cl،ic gothic building feature. While the building does not conform to a lot of traditional rules, it was built in the Victorian era, making it a rightful Victorian building.

j) Fairmont Banff Springs, Ca،a

Architect: Bruce Price, Walter Painter, John Orrock

Built: 1886 (Improvements: 1911, 1927)

Fairmont is one of the buildings that neatly capture the Scottish castle design. The building stands out in the woods, which is a cl،ic Victorian characteristic; standing out.

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The building has triangular roofs with eaves rooms in them and is the best exhibition of this feature of Victorian ،uses. The building is hardly symmetrical and has a lot of rooms in it.

Final Take

There has been great architecture since the Greeks. However, the Victorian era gives every period a chance to stand out in its own right while blending with modern needs. The Victorian era is perhaps one of the most experimental and full of discovery, especially because her kingdom was expanding.

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