Country Houses and Palaces
Introduction
The British architecture of the 17-18 century proved appropriate for the different styles and compositions used by the renowned architectures and landscape designers. According to Chris B., they worked tirelessly and decorated royal palaces and country estates using a mixture of styles including Baroque, Classic, Neo-Gothics, and Indian-Saracinian. In the scope of this analysis, it focuses on the changes, improvements and restorations of the four buildings that are constructed in different styles. The research narrows down to the kitchen part of each building. The buildings encompass Royal Pavilion, Kenwood House, Сhiswick House, and Strawberry Hill. Bentley, Adams, Kent and Nash used unique designs to accomplish the structures, especially in the kitchen sectors. They performed their work separately in different periods during the development of the British Empire. While performing the design, the artists used their knowhow within the modes, revealing that “changing styles are traced from medieval manors to Baroque constructions and the Georgian period” within a flow up to Neo-Gothics.
The study thus examines various components of each kitchen in the every building. The lighting system, painting style, amount of space, and the use of tiles prove vital for the examination. Some of the kitchen structures follow cultural diversity of many expanses of Great Britain. Many monumental buildings were situated within the vicinity of London. However, some of these buildings resembled the samples of landscape plan in the country.
Royal Pavilion
The location of the British Royal Pavilion is in Brighton (England). The projection of this building followed the visit of King George IV in Brighton. The location of the city in the marine area inspired the initiative. The outer appearance being fascinating inspired him to decide to put up the home for British monarch’s in the place.
The picture above shows the interior parts of the kitchen in the Royal Pavilion. As aforementioned, the research finds interest in discussion the features of the kitchen as opposes to the whole building. Close examination of the interior parts of the kitchen reveals that it is furnished and decorated in a unique way. It appears to be completed in efficacious mixtures and productive layouts of that appeal to the eye.
Far from the decoration, the pleasing part with the kitchen lies in the spirit of its construction. According to Simon, the British monarchy had an effective gesture towards the kitchen, an indication of their care about the warriors. The kitchen is spacious with proper arrangements of seats on its floors.
Most authors describe the part as a great kitchen that they considered modern during its time. The kitchen was equipped with the latest kitchen technology. As one can see from the picture, it had large airy room that allowed people to grasp fresh air. The kitchen’s table remained laded with silver dishes that were lucrative during the period. Its design represented a change from airless, gloomy, and stuffy kitchens of the period. It is special in its proximity to the Banqueting room. Most designers located kitchens far away from such places to prevent any risk and smell.
On the south wall of the kitchen was a sophisticated smokejack. It was an efficient version of a Tudor spit. The architectures designed it in a manner that the heat from the fire automatically activated it. More so, it was fitted with five 2-metre spits that allowed the chef to prepare many dishes simultaneously. The great kitchen also used different sources of light including, tallow candles, wax candles, and oil lamps. In 182, the management installed a gas lamp outside the music room. The light penetrated the kitchen from its exteriors, giving different colors views.
The kitchen’s architectural elements are the recognizable ones for the visitors based on the unique Indian-Saracinian style that integrates the elements of pompous European Baroque and Eastern elements. Its interior appears like a hall with freer space to perform various activities. According to Mary, he called the style of the kitchen a type of inclusivity in mind that expands the mind for evolving rich imagination. The styles used include the classical European Baroque with richly golden furniture, antique furniture, marble floors, and properly lighted ceilings. The designers carefully planned the furniture space within the interior. The person who designed the building was John Nash, a famous architecture who tackled interiors as a whole. He applied the philosophical concept of holism that regarded consistency as the most applicable point in developing the overall layout of the kitchen. Following this view, it proved significant for him to design the interior picture frames, doors, surrounds, fireplaces and furnishings in the one style. The style appeared unique in the overall dimensions of the erection. Basing on the observation of these issues, it proved vital being led by the special cases of stylish components in every kitchen apartment. For instance, the dining room contains artificial pictures including that of a coconut. The British monarchs had a great passion towards the multiplicity of the collections. The move towards enriching the interior and the exterior parts of the kitchen by using excessive decoration had a meaning in the society. It signified the contrast between harmony in architecture and disharmonic feelings in their souls.
Kenwood House Kitchen
Kenwood House kitchen represent a prominent example of Georgian architecture. The structure attained three hundred years in 2014 from the time when King George I obtained the English throne.
Following the history of Kenwood House, it was started before to the beginning of the 17th century. Kenwood kitchen was a simple country room in the woods situated within the beautiful vicinity of London. Adam and his team of talented painters, plasterers and builders turned the apartment into a masterpiece of Georgian architecture and interior art sample in the mid-18th century. Their application of colour on ceilings almost created the plasterwork stand outs within the kitchen. They stressed motifs and changes on a green-like theme represented all aspects of the kitchen’s interior. Their use of fan lights above doors in the kitchen apartment proved eminent in the construction. The other components like the carved gilt for tables, chairs, and frames are relatively 3-dimensional. The design is to reflect the effect of light and shadow thus bearring the overflowing leaves, fruit and flowers being displayed in furniture and painting. They distributed and backgrounded the use of light in the variety of angles within the kitchen’s interiors. Their design of the space and the facilities in the kitchen distinguished the building from other types of the similar kind.
The kitchen segment appeared won by the end of the twentieth century. Its walls became wet and began to crumble. A decision then came to provide a major reconstruction of its parts. Kenwood formed the place where Lord Mansfiel got his money. They sold the collection of paintings of the museum to raise funds for the renovation of the building. The Heritage Lottery Fund gave3.89 million grants to facilitate the process.
Since then, eight rooms have been renovated on the first floor including the kitchen apartment. Four of the rooms are followed the Robert Adam’s deign with the other four taking the style of “gentleman’s artistic home” of the 18th century. Major part of the work lied in the restoration of the building structure. They rebuilt the roof but, dried its walls and painted them while setting up the elevator.
Currently, the kitchen has a well-crafted interior features that resemble the traditional design. Furthermore, it indicates a traditional stylish cemetery and custom details. The kitchen also has a separate work stations anchored by a bold red island. The interiors contain tiles backed with features that give it a textual mixture of patterns. The uses of tiles in the construction added the feeling of the modern touch on the structure. The kitchen has an opening from the dining room that allows the penetration of light into its interiors. The opening also facilitates free movement between the places. The room is spacious enough with well-placed shelves for storage. The constructors paid particular attention to the reconstruction of the kitchen’s original version while adding more apartments within its interiors. The designers described the interior of the kitchen with all sorts of contemporaries. They applied all the variety of colors in the larger parts including pale pink, pale blue and white colors. However, the ceiling composed of magnificent paintings.
The other parts had the collections of paintings consisting of those by the Old Dutch masters and British paintings. The contributing artist to the work encompassed t, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Gainsborough, Constable, Turner, and Rembrand. The structures are situated in the north wing of the Kenwood House. The kitchen’s exterior placement allows the chefs to enjoy the good looks of the park of Hampstead, though different from the park in the green terraces, view of the lake, and a garden with beds of flowers and a kitchen garden.
Сhiswick House Kitchen
The building’s location is in the village of Chiswick situated in the county of Middlesex. The course’s name reflects the main occupation of its inhabitants. The construction of the building took place in the start time of the XVIII century. William Kent and the Earl of Burlington projected the architectural monument including the kitchen garden. The kitchen structure gains its anonymity due to its strict geometrical symmetry of the regular park. The paintings in both the interiors and the exteriors of the kitchen reflect great creativity in the art’s sector. William Kent employed creativity in the construction of the structure. Horace Walpole, a known English author wrote in appreciation of his genius paintings works naming him father of modern gardening. The paintings in of the exteriors and interiors of the kitchen emanated from mediocrity, restorer of the science, and the inventor of an art that realizes painting and improves nature. Mahomet imagined an elysium, Kent created many with respect to the painting works.
The kitchen though not big enough allows for proper space for performing relevant routine duties. The room is well lit with bulb hanging up the ceiling. The exteriors of the kitchen allow the outer light to penetrate into the building during the day. The space within the kitchen allows for the arrangement of furniture for the use in the room. The segmentation in the kitchen allows for specific placement of every item in its own place. It is also exposed enough to avoid any stuff that could course inconveniencies during food preparation. Due to time, the building demanded renovation including the kitchen department. The facility required around £13 million for the restoration. By June this year, a great move took place. The management planted 1900 trees and restored what existed in the days of Kent views and panoramas. They also updated and compiled into a single style of garden furniture and restored pavilions and sculptures.The facility currently has an outdoor cafe. The designers minimalized the kitchen with the light limestone and glass with a slight touch of the classics. The interior of the kitchen appears attractive based on their bright painting that combines many colors. The artist used such color mixture to give the room the most desirable texture. The architectures gave the kitchen a proper location within the building with an aim of promoting its activities. There is proper ventilation within the kitchen to allow for proper air circulation.
Despite the reconstruction, the kitchen still preserves the attractive features of Kent’s classic style. Furniture is uniquely planned for the space it occupies within the kitchen appartment. The advantage remains that Kent became the first British designer to tackle interiors of the kitchen in its entirety. He achieved it within the interior of Cheswick House. The kitchen aspects included the picture frames, doors, surrounds, fireplaces and furnishings. His design entailed the use of rich textures and including rare marble for table tops and columns. The design proved anonymous in Georgian England. The structure had rich fabrics on walls incorporating silk and damask.
Strawberry Hill Kitchen
John Hewitt and draftsman Richard Bentley were the artist behind the projection of the above kitchen structure. The work took place in 1747-1770, when they actively established the structure. Horatio Walpole later bought the estate in 1747 on the banks of Thamas near London. He began rebuilding it and named the farm Strawberry Hill. His aim was to build a Gothic castle in the Strawberry Hill. He intended to use a vintage stained glass and antique weapons.
The kitchen section within the building measures 3.17m x 2.66m. The architectures fitted the kitchen with a full cover of contemporary wall. The paintings on the wall are a reflection of the modern styles of buildings. The kitchen has a tile floor all over. The surroundings are properly tiles thus giving the kitchen a good look. Within the kitchen is a one and half inch sink unit with mixture tap. The unit is a half bowl single drainer. The material is made of stainless steel that ensures its appealing outlook. More so, there is an integrated dishwasher within the structure. The kitchen also has an inset spotlighting that provides appropriate light for visibility. The designer placed a pvc double glazed window in the kitchen sector with an open access to the outer parts. Walpole later published description of his castle including the kitchen apartment. It was the second edition of what was published in 1784. The publication occurred again in 1798 giving both the illustrations and drawings of the whole building.
The structure known as the neo-Gothic architecture compiled the basic element of historical Gothic that included brick vault. Girouard argues that the designers attended the decor by stained glass, sculptures, and stucco. Many people admired the Gothic kitchen due to its true signs of the Gothic style. The neo-Gothic architecture of the house had a lot design within the kitchen making it the “Gothic Revival” of the 18th century. It mixed architectural styles from diverse states and periods to ensure that the kitchen attracted much attention. The structures door resembled the portals of the cathedrals. The kitchen room as part of the building had similarities with the medieval tombs. The writer while describing his house stressed the conscious use of a variety of techniques and elements of Gothic facades and interiors. The Strawberry Hill kitchen displays a structure that explains the high-level creativity of its designers. The building’s owner refers to it as the lofty hills of the Windsor. The kitchen represents part of the building and, therefore, proves one of its hills with such wonderful looks.
Conclusion
The three buildings including Royal pavilion, Kenwood house, Chiswick House, and Strawberry Hill were built in the 17-18 century. The period represented the historical revival of Renaissance and Baroque architecture as were used in the design of buildings. From the analysis, one realizes that some of architectural projects incorporated the use of gothic components in planning the kitchens’ interior and exterior constituents. The three kitchens in all the buildings have a lot in common. However, they also are different in many aspects including their styles of design. They all proved attractive to the globe due to their appealing design of the interior and the exterior parts.
In essence, the designers constructed the kitchens using different styles. However, the structures have been adjusted following the reconstructions. The funding of the restoration came from varied sources including the selling valuable paintings and antiquity. The money raised facilitated the reconstruction of the monumental architecture that returned it to a good condition. The structures are currently used as museums to attract visitors from different countries. The buildings portray the lifestyle of the ancient epoch. The British rule possessed many buildings of the same kind. It is possible to compare the building styles with and the people who lived in then on the grounds of demand for supporting them from adverse weather conditions. Designing kitchen as part of a building calls for critical thinking and creativity. Kitchen forms a major part of a building since it stores the both delicate and sensitive items.
