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Style Of House Architecture In Australia
Adelaide, South Australia's largest capital city, has, among many other things, a great mix of lush parklands, a long beach, and a great wine region. However, one of the main pulls for visitors is the elegant architecture distributed around the city, what with it being a famous city for its ancient structures and outstanding architecture. Because of its rich cultural sites and various architectural styles, Adelaide is known as "the City of Churches."
The housing architecture in Australia, in general, is quite diverse, and in this article, we will show you some of the most common architecture styles found in Adelaide, South Australia. Although the work of numerous professions has influenced Adelaide's housing across centuries, the scope of all house styles, present and past, has primarily been confined to some distinct architectural patterns.
Adelaide's Different Architectural Styles
The start of Adelaide's architectural history
Adelaide's architecture is denoted by several architectural styles, including Old Colonial to 1840, Federation to 1915, Victorian to 1890, Interwar, Post-war, and the Late Twentieth Century from 1960. You will also discover that these architectural designs were made to project a sense of stability and wealth in the early generations of Adelaide's settlement.
However, architecture developed more throughout time, merging magnificent architectural types with the geometric arrangement of the city's subdivisions and parklands. This has transformed Adelaide into a one-of-a-kind area of architecture and grassland, unlike any other Australian metropolis. Buildings constructed in the Old Colonial era were typically rudimentary compared to British architecture of those eras, but Georgian notions of orderliness nevertheless influenced their style and size.
Buildings during this era had symmetrical facades, rectangular and prismatic designs, and were well-proportioned. Like other buildings of the British colonies in hot climates, the veranda became a popular technique to shield a house from the sunlight. In single-story homes, the Georgian porch is generally a lower pitched offshoot of the main roof. The British Empire, including Australia, was still primarily Anglican throughout the Victorian era.
This made it so vulnerable to the influences of the Cambridge and Oxford Movements, which promoted the adoption of Gothic Revival architecture. Consequently, throughout the nineteenth century, while Australia was quickly developing, two kinds of architecture were particularly visible: Gothic and Classical.
Adelaide's architecture through the ages
Initially, Gothic architecture was reserved for God's (religious) buildings, while Classical architecture was for ordinary people's houses. Later, a modern "self-made" Australian society emerged, free of the constraints of a traditional British education that dictated classical gentlemanly tastes. This "modern" self-made man would frequently choose Gothic as the style of his home.
Edwardian architecture flourished during King Edward's era (1901-1910) in the United Kingdom and its colonies at the time. It was indeed the dominant style in the United Kingdom as well as its territories (like Australia). This style was primarily influenced by the Victorian era as well as the previous Queen Anne style of the early 18th century. The Edwardian era coincided with Australia's Federation. Therefore, the Federation design was the Australian equivalent of Edwardian architecture.
However, it was distinguished from the Edwardian by using Australian themes, such as the rising sun, emus, and kangaroos. It also utilised geometric designs and Australian flora. Red brick exteriors with elaborate wood decoration known as fretwork are a few of the most recognisable Federation or Edwardian elements. Tall chimneys and cream-painted ornate wood elements were all common too.
Fashionable contemporary houses from the late 1930s in the Streamline Moderne architecture were frequently compared to ocean liners, having walls, windows, and balconies flowing around corners. These characteristics became ingrained in the suburban architecture of the 1940s (Post-war style period). The employment of downward curves in chimneys, fence pillars, and other vertical features gave rise to the 'Waterfall' or 'Waterfall Front' style.
A Few Of Adelaide's Architectural Tourist Spots
Beehive Corner
The name refers to a central Adelaide intersection at the north-eastern corner of Rundle Streets and King William. Beehive Corner is located in the heart of the bustling commercial district and was previously a draper's store known as the Beehive because of the beehive design on its glass doors.
The current structure on the corner was designed by George Klewitz Soward and Thomas English in 1896, relying on the Gothic Revival style but displaying an astonishing amount of sophisticated detail for a building erected during this era.
Parliament House
This structure is one of the most spectacular in Adelaide. Its construction consisted of two stages, resulting in two buildings: I) Old Parliament House (1889) and II) the new Parliament House (1939), which was the final version. The Old Parliament Building was completed in 1855 but quickly became overcrowded and stuffy. Another structure was later built in a Neoclassical design, with ten massive columns as the main features.
St Peter's Cathedral
This structure is evocative of the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, with a stunning rose window over the main entrance and strong roof points. The Cathedral's construction began around 1869, with just a portion of the structure completed and open by 1877. This first portion is still visible today because of the changes in colour on its ceiling. The entire structure was not completed until around 1911, with its floor, tiles, and roof being redone in 1990.
Victoria Square
Victoria Square, also referred to as Tarntanyangga, is a well-known public square that houses some of the city's most important structures. The Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of St Francis Xavier and the State Government offices are located to the east of the square. Adelaide Central Market, commercial buildings, and various hotels can be found to the west of the area.
Interested In Owning A Property In Adelaide?
As you have seen in this article, Adelaide is rich with beautiful houses whose designs were influenced by several different classical and contemporary architectural styles. If you want to buy an elegant home with any of these exquisite styles, you should first consult with a superb professional building inspector in Adelaide. They will assist you in identifying potential issues that are common in older homes. You should also work with a realtor to help you in obtaining a decent deal on the buying price.
