Neoclassism

Robert Adam

designed country house interiors to be reminiscent of the elements of Ancient Greek/Roman ruins

Syon House

designed by Robert Adam to incorporate classical elements into the interior (Roman friezes, columns, & half-domes)

When & where was the Syon House built/remodeled

mid 18th century, London

Displays of classical elements/artifacts were tied to the

wealth of the countries that were often derived from colonialism & capitalism

Rediscovery of the past & new history

new archaeological discoveries prompt scholars to reconsider historical knowledge

Lord Burlington & William Kent

designed the Chiswick House

Chiswick House

designed to represent a “stripped down” version of classicism as a statement of taste & politics

When & where was the Chiswick House built

early 18th century in Middlesex (near London)

Purification of form

a return to clear forms and proportional relationships in English, Neo-Palladian country houses

The Chiswick House was modeled after the

Villa Rotonda in Italy

The Villa Rotonda was designed by

Andrea Palladio, leading to the style of Palladianism

Laugier’s Essay on Architecture introduced the ideas of

the primitive hut and honesty in architecture

The Primitive Hut

theory that advocated for the return to nature’s simplicity and the exclusion of ornate decor that obscured the function of a building

Laugier’s ideas developed in tandem with

the rejection of monarchy

Jacques Germain Soufflot designed

the Church of St. Genevieve

The Church of St. Genevieve

pointed towards a new path of rational architecture that strips away illusion, ambiguity, & complexity

Buildings are didactic, they have the

potential for visual form to teach moral values

Virginia State Capitol

aimed to guide the building of government structures and embody democratic ideals

When and where was the Virginia State Capitol built

Richmond in the late 18th century

Academic Village of UVA

designed to facilitate learning via regular contact between students & professors

UVA’s Academic Village had a library at the heart of the university to

emphasize learning & knowledge over religion

Each building had different designs to

distinguish the subjects & display the visual lessons of good architecture

The Academic Village also highlights the contradictions of the Enlightenment as

it was built and maintained by slaves

When & where was the Academic Village built

Charlottesville in the early 19th century