A general overview
As we have already covered, the new transport system provided an ideal platform for builders they made use of the canals and rails because it was easier and cheaper thus swaying The Victorians to use "local" materials wherever possible hence maintaining a traditional pattern on British materials used. This was a good thing due to the fact that the buildings preserve their identity, even until today.
We will now explore the materials the Great Victorian Builders used...
As we have already covered, the new transport system provided an ideal platform for builders they made use of the canals and rails because it was easier and cheaper thus swaying The Victorians to use "local" materials wherever possible hence maintaining a traditional pattern on British materials used. This was a good thing due to the fact that the buildings preserve their identity, even until today.
We will now explore the materials the Great Victorian Builders used...
The elements of the High Victorian Gothic were inspired by the medieval architecture of England, Northern Italy and France. The Victorian architects and designers were impressed by how medieval buildings perfected the fusion of materials and structure. The idea of “truth to materials” was very attractive to them, and they mastered expressing this in their buildings where the structural materials also provided the decoration. This concept is incorporated in their designs, but in my opinion they didn't just replicate what they saw instead when you look and examine their work you can see that they changed the elements of the design.
High Victorian Gothic buildings are distinguished by the use of polychromia bands of decorative stonework and bricks as seen in the images below. The Victorians would use Polychromia to achieve color either by applying paint or by combining materials together; this became a Victorian trademark and soon this concept was also used to brighten up the interiors of the buildings.
Terra cotta panels were usually favored by them windows, wall and doors were accented with the panels, often in contrasting colors, this created a strong effect and broke down the monotony of red brick or stones. The same colors would be found on the flooring placed together to form geometric patterns and floral motifs. Another material they would use was stone as seen in the images below, they carved the stone to portray a resemblance to nature, they would strive to produce elements that were as similar to nature as possible.
The enormous height of the buildings symbolized an aspiration to the heavens above and although it looked great, a negative feature was lighting within the structure. To rectify this issue they increased the length of their windows, in turn factories produced larger sheets of glass. They would adorn the windows with metal and wood motifs, and soon the use of metal and wood could be seen in other aspects of the building. An example of this is seen in the images below, where they used wood to form the base off the floor and the door, in both cases they created beautiful floral motifs from metal.
High Victorian Gothic buildings are distinguished by the use of polychromia bands of decorative stonework and bricks as seen in the images below. The Victorians would use Polychromia to achieve color either by applying paint or by combining materials together; this became a Victorian trademark and soon this concept was also used to brighten up the interiors of the buildings.
Terra cotta panels were usually favored by them windows, wall and doors were accented with the panels, often in contrasting colors, this created a strong effect and broke down the monotony of red brick or stones. The same colors would be found on the flooring placed together to form geometric patterns and floral motifs. Another material they would use was stone as seen in the images below, they carved the stone to portray a resemblance to nature, they would strive to produce elements that were as similar to nature as possible.
The enormous height of the buildings symbolized an aspiration to the heavens above and although it looked great, a negative feature was lighting within the structure. To rectify this issue they increased the length of their windows, in turn factories produced larger sheets of glass. They would adorn the windows with metal and wood motifs, and soon the use of metal and wood could be seen in other aspects of the building. An example of this is seen in the images below, where they used wood to form the base off the floor and the door, in both cases they created beautiful floral motifs from metal.
Day, L. F. (2007) Ornament and its application. United Kingdom: Obscure Press
Dixon, R. and Muthesius, S. (1978) Victorian Architecture; With a short dictionary of architects and 250 illustrations. 2nd edn.
London; Thames and Hudson
Prior, E. S. (1974) History of gothic art in England. Wakefield: E. P. Publishing