Learn how the Arts & Crafts movement impacted property design and architecture
The Arts and Crafts movement was a rebellion against the mass production and industrialisation of the Victorian period.
The Arts and Crafts movement was a rebellion against the mass production and industrialisation of the Victorian period.
It refers to a broader social movement encompassing architecture, interior design, textiles, fine art, and more.
In the 19th Century, England underwent an industrial revolution that hugely impacted architecture and how properties were built and designed.
But, William Morris, the Designer-cum-poet that was famous around this time, was a critic of the 19th Century society and its monotony of factory production. He and other movement followers felt that the Industrial revolution brought unnecessary opulence and overdone design.
They felt that industrialisation was leading to a loss of skills and craftsmanship that was destroying any natural creativity within architecture and design.
And their solution?
Taking inspiration from Gothic architecture in Europe and medieval architecture, Morris wanted to bring back craftsmanship that could not be replicated in factories. He wanted to champion the crafts and skills that individuals held so they could be kept alive and passed on through generations rather than being lost forever.
He created a scheme whereby the architect would design the entirety of the project, from start to finish, including the furniture and interiors. Door handles and wall coverings would be chosen by the architect, as well as windows. This ensured that locally sourced materials could be used and showcased, as well as traditional crafts and construction methods which would create a kind of artistic installation and exhibition of that area.
This ensured that the end result was in keeping with the overall design from the outset and stayed true to the Arts & Crafts theology. All furniture and fittings were created bespoke for the property by skilled craftsmen that would build to the architects' designs.
This idea moved through the UK and Europe. It encouraged a revival of standards and methods of making artefacts that were true to the materials and construction methods and function with the essence of the design.
In 1861, Morris set up his company, Morris Marshal Faulkner and Co, to promote these ideals and produce objects of beauty. This company was to focus on design aesthetics and would provide both the design and manufacture of the building and interiors. Their designs ensured that they incorporated skills and crafts that had started to be lost and forgotten.
Architecture was reformed through traditional building crafts and local materials, as they would have done before industrialisation. Designs were informed by locally available materials and the property's function rather than what could be produced cheaply and quickly in a factory setting.
Morris's work was mainly decorative and intricate, using rich colours. But his preference for architecture was unadorned simplicity. His favourite property was Great Coxwell Barn, which he described as "beautiful as a cathedral".
So, what are the characteristics of a property from the Arts & Crafts period?
-clarity of form or structure
-a variety of materials
-asymmetry
-traditional construction
-craftsmanship
Buildings were constructed within the local vernacular - that is architectural jargon for the outward appearance - and embraced the use of local materials and traditions.
Arts and Crafts houses are easily recognisable with asymmetrical roofs and a distinctive form and structure. The properties tend to blend the charms of a traditional country cottage with a house of larger proportions, providing a quirky character which is often missing in large properties.
The construction features are so crucial to the style that they tend to be exposed, with brickwork and timbers on display. Chimneys are usually oversized, leading to brick or stone fireplaces. The windows are often made of smaller panes for a more traditional look. Front doors tend to be substantial, wooden, and are usually celebrated as a prominent feature in a porchway.
The short-lived movement quickly declined after 1900 but continued further in Europe. And in the US and Canada, the Arts & Crafts movement inspired architectural heavy-weight Frank Lloyd Wright, who famously designed the Villa Savoye. Frank Lloyd Wright later became a founding member of the Chicago Arts & Crafts Society.
Many properties around the UK have opened their doors to visitors, showcasing the movement and attention to design for which Arts & Crafts properties are famous.
Such as Standen House in West Sussex. A Grade I listed house, built by Phillip Webb in the late 1890s for James Beale, a wealthy London solicitor. Drawing inspiration from Medieval farm buildings and using local construction materials, Webb created a thoroughly modern house. Lavishly decorated with William Morris interiors, the property still uses the electrical light fittings that were installed when the property was built. This property is now owned by the National Trust.
Or Rodmarton Manor in Gloucestershire. Built in a soft Cotswold stone, this large Grade I listed house is privately owned. It was described as 'The English Arts and Crafts Movement at its best' by leading architect C R Ashbee. Architect Ernest Barnsley, a follower of William Morris, designed it for the Biddulph family, and they still own it to this day. Constructed in the early 20th century, it was hand crafted from wood and stone by local craftsmen. The interior furnishings were all bespoke and made locally. One wing of the house was used for teaching community crafts. Part of the gardens is landscaped as 'rooms' following the Arts and Crafts style. Although privately owned, the house and its eight acres of gardens are open to the public for two days a week in the summer.
-Stoneywell, Leicestershire. Designed by Ernest Gimson, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, for his brother in 1899. Gimson had met and been greatly influenced by William Morris, who steered him towards his career in architecture. The house is now in the hands of the National Trust and recently opened to the public. As Stoneywell was a family home, much of the original furniture is still in the house today.
Do you live in an Arts & Crafts home? We would love to hear from you!