Order out of chaos : Soane's Law Courts as a paradigm for architecture in the age of historicism

Author

Sawyer, Sean

Document type

Article (livre)

Language

English

Book title

Fragments : architecture and the unfinished : essays presented to Robin Middleton

Author (monograph)

Bergdoll, Barry (Editor, Collective Author); Oechslin, Werner (Editor, Collective Author)

Source

Fragments : architecture and the unfinished : essays presented to Robin Middleton. 2006, 109-122, 7 ill.

Publisher

Thames & Hudson, London (gbr)

Publication country

United Kingdom

Abstract (en)

Explores John Soane's aim to reshape the ancient precincts of Westminster Hall into a functional, modern complex for the judicial system. Analyses the evolution of his plan for the Law Courts from 1820 to 1823, showing how he exploited the deficiencies of the administration of public works which was a principal factor in clearing the way for the Courts's comprehensive reconstruction. Considers the controversy over his neo-Palladian facade, fueled by public and political sentiment for Wesminster's medieval monuments. This aesthetic controversy led Soane to reconsider the arguments for stylistic eclecticism, particularly those advanced by Richard Payne Knight. Soane's synthetic approach combined disparate stylistic and programatic elements: classical principles of symmetry and axiality on a difficult urban site; application of the principles of associationist and picturesque theory; and neo-classical vocabulary to create order in variety. Argues that his design process constituted a paradigm for architecture in the age of historicism.

Subject (en)

• General history of art -- 1800-1945 -- Architecture -- United Kingdom
• Soane, John, 1753-1837
• Architecture
• New Law Courts (Westminster)||London (GBR)
• Medieval
• Destruction
• Reconstruction [rebuilding]
• Eclecticism
• Historicism
• Picturesque
• Neo-classicism
• Associationism
• Courts of law
• Great Britain
• 1800-1900
• Aesthetics

Subject (fr)

• Histoire générale de l'art -- 1800-1945 -- Architecture -- Royaume-Uni
• Soane, John, 1753-1837
• Architecture
• New Law Courts (Westminster)||London (GBR)
• Moyen Age
• Destruction
• Reconstruction
• Eclectisme
• Historisme
• Pittoresque
• Néoclassicisme
• Associationnisme
• Cour de justice
• Grande-Bretagne
• 1800-1900
• Esthétique

Origin

DatabaseBHA (Inist-CNRS/GRI)

Identifier20060701-00024216

Sauf mention contraire ci-dessus, le contenu de cette notice bibliographique peut être utilisé dans le cadre d'une licence CC BY 4.0 / Unless otherwise stated above, the content of this bibliographic record may be used under a CC BY 4.0 license