South Kensington Living
Victorian
"Victorian" refers to the architecture reign of Queen Victoria (1836 – 1901).
That did not mean a single style. There were many styles. But what they generally had in common was a rejection of the subservience to ancient Greek and Roman models and the classical restraint which were features of the Georgian era, and the desire to look for new sources of inspiration. "Exuberance" is a word commonly applied to Victorian styles.
The invention of new materials and manufacturing methods provided the opportunity to branch out in new directions. Iron and glass on a huge scale allowed the Victorians to build novel constructions like Crystal Palace or St Pancras station. This did not have a particular impact on house building. Bathrooms and toilets became a new standard feature as the period progressed.
There was more individual freedom in ornamenting facades. and Gothic designs began to rival the traditional classical ones. But otherwise houses continued to be built on the same basic plan as Georgian houses.
