The Life of the British Home: An Architectural History - Hardcover

Edward Denison; Guang Yu Ren

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470683333 ISBN 13: 9780470683330

Publisher: Wiley, 2012

Synopsis

Unlocking the history of the British home, this book reveals how its layout has evolved from the Stone Age to the present day. From modest ancient dwellings and medieval merchants' houses to imposing stately mansions and modern urban estates, the book explores the forces that have shaped these homes. Each chapter brings these ideas to life by focusing on buildings that are accessible and open to the public. Featured homes include: the Tudor mansions of Cowdray and Burghley House; and the grand Georgian terraces of London, Bath and Brighton.

About this title

Review:

'A very readable and attractive book, and managers to be totally accessible to the non-specialist, without patronising the knowledgeable reader-indeed its themes and ideas a stimulating for all. (C2O Magazine, June 2012) 'Beautifully written and illustrated (RIBA Journal, July 2012) Stunning colour photographs are accompanied by detailed layout plans and drawing an accessible and entertaining read.' (Journal iof the Islington Archaeology & History Society, July 2012) 'Well-illustrated and fluently written.' (Country Life, 8th August) An illuminating book for those with even a passing interest in domestic architecture, this is a book to refer to again and again. (House & Garden, November 2012) The Life of the British Home is neither a coffee table book nor a guide book. Lavishly illustrated and beautifully presented, it advances a new perspective on a subject that, elsewhere, has a tendency to look tired and repetitive. (Context, March 2013) Overall it has to be one of the more beautiful books published in the field of architectural history. (SPAB Magazine, October 2013)

From the Back Cover:

Unlocking the history of the British home, this book reveals how its layout has evolved from the Stone Age to the present day, to cater for the very different needs and lifestyles of its occupants. From modest ancient dwellings and medieval merchants' houses to imposing stately mansions and modern urban estates, the book explores the forces that have shaped our homes and examines the attitudes and innovations of each age.

The story begins with the earliest Neolithic houses, built by the first people to surrender a nomadic way of life and settle on the land. It moves on to the Iron Age, and continues via the period of Roman invasion and classical order, the medieval era, the ostentatious mansions erected in Tudor times to display the wealth and social standing of their owners, and the urban civility of the Georgian terraces. It then turns to the villas and high-rise apartments of the Victorian period and, lastly, the 20th century, when domestic architecture had to respond to industrialisation and unprecedented urbanisation.

Each chapter brings these ideas to life by focussing on buildings that are accessible and open to the public. Featured homes include: stone dwellings in the Orkneys; roundhouses at Butser Ancient Farm; the Roman villa at Bignor; Anglo-Saxon homes at West Stow; the great fortified manor of Stokesay Castle; the Tudor mansions of Cowdray and Burghley House; the Palladian splendour of Moor Park; and the grand Georgian terraces of London, Bath and Brighton; as well as more modest Victorian terraced houses and pioneering post-war housing projects.

• Features specially commissioned colour photography by Edward Denison.
• Includes new hand-drawn illustrations and plans by Guang Yu Ren.

Featured Houses

The many publicly accessible sites and homes featured in the book include: Aston Hall; Audley End; the Georgian terraces of Bath and Bristol; Bignor Roman Villa; Burghley House; Cowdray; Gainsborough Old Hall; Lutyens's Goddards; Herstmonceux Castle; Layer Marney; Moor Park; Old Soar Manor; Penshurst Place; Skara Brae; Stokesay Castle; Strangers' Hall; numerous medieval homes at the Weald and Downland Museum; the Anglo-Saxon Village at West Stow; Winchester Great Hall; and Wollaton Hall.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0470683333
• ISBN 13: 9780470683330
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304