Architecture through Time.

Architecture is everywhere we look, from the historic buildings of London's past to the modern builds that we live in. It is all too easy to notice buildings around us without even giving a second thought about how they came to be. While architecture is evident the world over, this article will focus on the architecture that can be found across Britain.

The Middle Ages

The middle ages started around the 1000AD and played a pivotal role in shaping the buildings and architecture of the island. Of course, long before the middle ages, the Roman invasion brought with it a style of building that included grandeur. Much of what the Romans achieved slowly fell into decay and is now lost to time, but a lot of the Middle Ages architecture is still standing today.
A fine example of some middle ages architecture is Durham Cathedral, which was completed in 1175 and finished in a gothic design.  Haddon Hall in Derbyshire is another great example of middle ages architecture and allows us to look back at the imposing grandeur of the time. Buildings tended to be large, gothic, and distinguished and this has filtered down into buildings from that point in time right up to today's builds.

The Tudor Period

The Tudors were all about showing off their wealth and social standing by creating luxuriously large buildings. A good example of a Tudor building is Hampton Court Palace. Tudor buildings took on a style of fortification and turrets and castle like exteriors was commonplace. Another example of exquisite Tudor architecture is Longleat House in Wiltshire which took on renaissance ideas and romanticised over the era of Roman rule.

The Victorian Era

The Victorian era saw many architectural revival styles become commonplace throughout the island. The industrial revolution brought rapid changes into the way in which architecture was designed. Notable features of Victorian home architecture are high ceilings and smaller rooms. Of course, the Victorian era provided us with many of the terrace homes that we now live in. Toilets and bathrooms were brought into the house from outdoors.

Up to Now

While today's buildings come in many modern and abstract styles such as the Shard and the Gherkin in London, many residential builds reach back into history and bring forwards some of the design elements of times gone by. As time progresses, older styles may be forgotten about, but the mark they made at the time lives on in every building we see.