Architecture & Dolls Houses
For the serious collector getting
the period details right may become an important issue within
their dolls house project / hobby. It is here that architecture
plays an important role. Whilst the most popular periods for
dolls house collectors - Tudor, Georgian and Victorian - were
marked by decorative and furnishing traits it is the different
architectural features, which will set your house most firmly
in a specific period.
In this feature we will try
to explain some of the more important characteristics of the
different styles.
Tudor
These were
generally built with a timber frame (mainly oak, which was plentiful
at the time), which gave the support for the structure, with
infill panels of wattle and daub (created with woven twigs and
plaster). For most Tudor
dolls houses the timber beams are surface mounted and finished
in a dark colour with the wall space in between coloured white.
It is best to use an "off white" or a weathered finish
to create a realistic look. In those days roads were muddy so
the bottom of buildings were usually quite grubby.
In Tudor times roofs were either
covered in thatch or small oak shingles.
These shingles were laid in a similar way to tiles. Large and
multiple chimneystacks were popular especially on the grander
buildings of the time. Decorous and ornamental designs were common
but circular chimney pots as we know them today did not appear
until later.
Windows in most early Tudor
houses were unglazed because glass could only be afforded by
the wealthy. Later in the period casement windows appeared and
because glass was only available in small pieces the "leaded
light" look became popular. This consisted of small square
or diamond pieces of glass being held together by lead strips.
It was also during this period
that the "dormer
window" first appeared - so called because they were
first used to give light to the dormitory or sleeping quarters
of a monastery.
An oak planked door was the
most widely used - which consisted of vertical planks on the
outside fixed to three internal cross panels. Door frames were
usually plain and simple.
Georgian
The Georgian period actually covered
a span of 116 years - from the accession of George I in 1714
to the death of George IV in 1830 - which also included the Regency
period. While classical design was important the period also
saw the development of the planned town, where squares and crescents
were favoured in towns whilst terraces were common in villages.
As building became more organised and land more restricted buildings
grew upwards to make better use of land area. Like the tall but
narrow buildings of the Tudor merchant, terraced houses and town
houses followed the same ideas.
In the town house the ground
and upper stories were for the owner, whilst the attic space
was for the servants. If there was a basement then quite often
the kitchen would be situated here, together with daytime servants'
quarters (where space allowed). Railings
would separate the basement from the street with steps leading
down.
Brick and stone was now widely
used. Dressed stone was used for the houses of the wealthier
classes especially in the towns. If brick was used it was most
likely to be a red
Flemish variety. Dressed stone was more indicative of wealth
and taste. However, for those with brick buildings, but with
grander aspirations, the answer came with the introduction of
"stucco" This was a substance which could be applied
to brick which imitated stone. This was widely used by renowned
architects such as the Adam brothers and John Nash during this
period. An easy way of simulating this for the dolls house enthusiast
is by the use of a textured paint, such as Sandtex.
The abundance of large quantities
of cheap softwood led to the construction of timber-framed houses
clad in what is known as weatherboarding. This was quite a common
form of construction for small houses in country villages.
Classical Georgian thinking
decreed that the roof and chimneys did not form an important
part of the design. Therefore, roofs that were shallow pitched
or even flat, covered with grey lead were common especially with
town houses. Chimneystacks were small and simple and sometimes
topped with the circular chimney
pots which started to appear in this period.
The sash window developed into
the most distinctive feature of the Georgian house. Rooms were
now higher so taller windows were required and the sash window
gave the regularity and proportion which designers were looking
for. Better construction techniques allowed the use of larger
panes of glass although because glass was still expensive, smaller
"leaded lights" were still seen on the poorer housing,
especially in the countryside. In order to preserve the softwood
used in the construction of these sash windows, lead oxide was
used as a coating and it was this which gave the white finish
which was common.
It was also during this period
that the bay window become common. These were usually seen on
small shops but were also common in small seaside terraces.
One of the most attractive
features of a Georgian house facade is its door.
The door itself is usually of the standard raised panel variety
(unlike Victorian doors which have a sunken panel), but the detail
and grandeur is found in the surround. Projecting canopies and
porches were made of timber, although in the north of England
local stone usually replaced this. A fanlight would also be common
because the house design - especially in terraced houses - meant
that this was normally the only external wall (and potential
light source) on the hall.
Another feature of the Georgian
house was the balcony. This was sometimes used to emphasise a
window or simply incorporated as a safety feature. Because windows
often extended to floor level, a balcony made it safer for people
standing or sitting near them.
Victorian
As a contrast to their Georgian counterparts
who embodied regularity in their designs, Victorian architects
preferred variety and irregularity.
The requirements of the expanding
middle classes demanded a house with a number of rooms of differing
sizes and designed for varied uses. Ornamental detail on windows,
porches and gables were an important
feature of the period
Land values in cities and towns
were high so terraced housing was popular, with 2 or 3 rooms
per floor. The grander "mansions" for the rich were
4 or 5 stories high, whilst the housing for the poorer classes
consisted only of a ground floor and first floor.
Virtually all Victorian houses
were constructed of brick
- now machine made rather than the previously hand made variety.
These were cheaper to produce, easier to transport and therefore
available to everybody. The use of machinery allowed different
colours and types of clay to be used in brick production, therefore
coloured patterns could be created in walls. The Victorians preferred
the more lively finish of brick to the plainness of stucco, which
had been chosen by their predecessors.
Tile and terracotta was also
used widely as a decorative feature especially on walls and gables.
Because of cheaper transport,
Welsh slate
was used throughout the country on pitched roofs. These were
topped off with ornamental
ridge tiles and fretted bargeboards on gable ends. Rolled,
sheet lead was still used to cover flat areas such as over bay
windows etc.
Chimney pots were popular as
they gave added variation to the roof line (as well as their
practical function of reducing smoke). Pots were often quite
tall, i.e. 2 feet for this reason.
The sash window was still the
favoured choice just as in Georgian times. However, with different
production methods available, large panes of glass could now
be used. In general, sashes were glazed in either a single large
pane or 2 smaller ones. Bay windows became popular as architects
realised that the outlook of living rooms could be improved by
designing windows with three aspects.
A typical design for the front
door consisted of four panels - two longer panels on the
top half of the door and two smaller ones beneath. These panels
were flat and recessed (different to the Georgian versions, which
were chamfered and raised). Glazed panels with brass door furniture
enabled Victorians to create a main entrance to impress their
guests.
Edwardian
This period was relatively short (1901
- 1910) so Victorian and Edwardian styles are often lumped together
as one indistinguishable approach to housing, although there
are in fact important differences between the styles of these
two eras.
Edwardian houses are simpler
and less grand than their Victorian equivalents. The decoration
and variety of Victorian design was replaced by a more masculine
look. Houses were designed to be functional rather than beautiful.
The influence of historic revivals was replaced by the desire
to create buildings, which were more suitable for the age they
were built in.
Whilst the design retained
many of the features of the Victorian house, such as sash windows
and bays, the exterior was altogether more plain. Brickwork was
simple and roofs lacked the fancy ridge mouldings seen previously.
Doors were often "half glazed" and glazed porches ensured
plenty of natural light for the hallway.
The development of the commuter
town led to the creation of streets of plain, red
brick fronted, gabled semis which are characteristic of this
time. The first Garden Cities were also created during this period
as well as the "workers towns" such as Saltair and
Cadbury.
We have only covered a few
styles here - but they are, we feel, the most popular with dolls
house collectors. It should be remembered that there is no sharp
division between periods, but rather a gradual change and a blend
from one style to another. Furthermore, throughout the ages architecture
has been influenced by "revivals". For instance, during
Victorian times (1837 - 1901) both a Gothic and a Queen Anne
(Stuart) revival were experienced. So some buildings built in
these years bore more resemblance to styles from an earlier time.
Add to this, the result of "foreign" influences and
you can see what a confusing issue choosing the right styles
for a particular date becomes.
I hope that this feature has
given you a small insight into this fascinating subject rather
than frightening you with its complexities. Above all, as we
always say -
"have fun with your
hobby and do not follow historic accuracy out of necessity, but
rather if that is truly what you want to do".
If you have any queries that
have not been answered by this feature please contact us on
Tel:
020 8295 0688 or Fax: 020 8295 1061
e-mail:
info@dolls-house-parade.co.uk
We will do our best to answer your questions.
If you need any other help
or advice, or have any suggestions for topics you would like
to see featured in the future, or you have your own hints and
tips you would like to share with your fellow miniaturists, please
e-mail us at:
enquiries@dollshouseparade.co.uk
