Georgian Arcadia: Architecture for the Park and Garden

The Georgian landscape garden was a period of innovative and diverse garden structures in which some of the era's greatest architects experimented with form, style, and technology. Roger White, a leading authority on Georgian landscape architecture, explores this genre, which includes structures with practical functions such as mausolea, boathouses, dovecotes, stables, kennels, deer pens, barns, and cowsheds, all of which could be dressed up to make an architectural impact. The book examines these structures architecturally and from a functional and cultural viewpoint, considering questions of stylistic origins and development.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 14 March 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

The Georgian landscape garden marked a significant shift in the architectural landscape, freeing garden buildings from the constraints of formality and enabling them to encompass larger areas of gardens and parks. Renowned authority on Georgian landscape architecture, Roger White delves into this genre, where some of the most renowned architects of the era explored diverse forms, styles, and innovative technologies. This comprehensive book extends beyond the obvious embellishments of parks and gardens, encompassing structures with primarily practical purposes such as mausolea, boathouses, dovecotes, stables, kennels, deer pens, barns, and cowsheds. White's examination of these structures encompasses both architectural and functional perspectives, considering the origins and development of stylistic elements. By focusing on the contributions of Britain's leading eighteenth-century architects, including Vanbrugh, Hawksmoor, Gibbs, Kent, Adam, Chambers, Wyatt, and Soane, Georgian Arcadia presents a visually captivating account of a period characterized by remarkable innovation and diversity in garden building.

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 eras 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.

Weight: 1762g
Dimension: 226 x 278 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300249958