- If the Victorians could "see" into the future they would have been excited to see the dawn of their new age, an age peace and prosperity...
The Industrial Revolution redesigned the lives of the Victorians, for example: -
- -Living standards improved: working conditions were now being addressed by the law makers, children could now work only work for a certain number of hours a week. There was a rise in birth rates, due to the lack of war and improved health conditions, although most of Victoria Britain was still plunged into inhuman poverty.
- Ideally the increase in population meant that the cities were expanding which in turn mean't that more architects and designers were needed.
- - Mass production of goods: now made products more affordable for common people because they were sold at lower lower prices. In my point of view, in areas, such as architecture and interior, powered production added to intricacy and quality that allowed the adding of "decorating" features such as curves and bulbs which could not be achieved by hand.
- As you can imagine this was a great achievement for the design world, details were now added onto the goods (architectural and interior motifs), not to mention that more people would now take the time to embellish their homes.
- -Changes in Society: Victorian Britain was split into three main classes; The Upper Class, The Middle Class and The Working Class.
- The middle class grew rapidly, they wanted to be a part of the upper class so they would adorn their homes with ornaments from all over the world much like the Upper Class did. While The Upper Class previously only hereditary, came to include Victorians that made fortunes for themselves.
- However, majority of the Victorians still lived in poverty as mentioned above, but later sought to reform themselves.
The Victorians (2009) Directed by John Hay. United Kingdom, BBC Television. [Documentary]
Dixon, R. and Muthesius, S. (1978) Victorian Architecture; With a short dictonary of architects and 250 illustrations. 2nd edn.
London; Thames and Hudson
Dixon, R. and Muthesius, S. (1978) Victorian Architecture; With a short dictonary of architects and 250 illustrations. 2nd edn.
London; Thames and Hudson