British Interiors - Architects - Robert Adam (1728 - 1792)

Robert Adam was born in Kirkaldy, Fife Scotland in 1728 and is famous for hi furniture and interior designs and most importantly for his work as an architect. He learnt his trade from his father William Adam who was a stone mason and architect. He had 3 brothers who were all architects and set up a London business with William and James which led to them being referred to as the Adam brothers.

Robert Adam studied at Edinburgh University from 1743-1745. However, he never completed his studies because of illness and the start of the Jacobite Rebellion. Adam's main period of study was from 1754-1758 when he undertook a Grand Tour of France and Italy to learn classical architecture and drawing. It was during the Tour that he produced his famous study of the ruins of Diocletian's Palace.

Adam's architectural style is mainly referred to as neo-classical and is clearly influenced by Roman and Greek architecture. However, there is also a Byzantine and Baroque influence to his work and it is well documented that the Adam brothers had a low opinion of the Palladian architects, which included their older brother John, as they felt they were merely imitators and not innovators.

In 1761 Adam along with his rival William Chambers were jointly appointed as "Architect of the King's Works" and Adam was given specific responsibility for the King's works in Scotland.

Robert Adam died aged 64, in London and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Scottish Buildings

Charlotte Square (1785 - 1820)

It was decided to rename St. George's Square in the new town after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, to avoid confusion with St George's Square in the south of the city. Hence in 1785 it became Charlotte Square in the New Town.

It seems that the Council felt a special effort should be made for Charlotte Square and many plans were submitted. Adam submitted plans in 1791. They are plainer than his usual designs as it is well documented that the Council feared that they would be drawn over budget with an Adam design. Therefore, it was kept simple to prevent the council rejecting his designs.

The design is based around one single block and the original plans are drawn up for the north, east and west sides of the square. The north and south are identical, whereas the east and west sides, despite appearing similar, have some small differences.

The conventions of classical architecture are followed, and each of the palace blocks is composed of a central pavilion, joined by less elaborate, slightly recessed, connecting links to terminal pavilions.

Adam created interest in the uniform blocks by having central and final pavilions connected by slightly recessed connecting links. This meant that he was able to create interest in the design without going against the council remit that the buildings within the terrace should all be at least 3 stories high and of similar size.

Adam's designs for Charlotte Square have been described as "one of the major achievements in European civic architecture of the period."

The design of Charlotte Square had a great influence on the architectural style of Georgian Edinburgh.

General Register House Edinburgh (1774 - 1789)

It was the earliest purpose built record repository in Britain after the Earl of Morton expressed great shock at the state of the Scottish records.

Robert Adam's designs were submitted in 1771 and consist of a rectangular quadrangle with towers on the corners and positioned half way along the short sides of the building. The central courtyard is filled with a domed hall, which is encircled by offices.

Work was begun in 1773, although proper building works did not began until 1774, but not to the full extent of the original design, although it was constructed in such a way that the sections that had been removed for financial reasons could be easily added at a later date.

In fact Register House was not fully completed until 1822 because the Napoleonic Wars had resulted in the Government not investing in any public building works during that period.

The New University Buildings, Edinburgh

Edinburgh University provided Adam with the opportunity to build the large scale public building that he so desired and would be the largest public building in Scotland to that date.

Adam's designs for the University are based upon two quadrangles, although it has been speculated that this design feature was forced upon him and he preferred a single quadrangle design.

The first court is smaller and simple in design in contrast to the elaborate design on the Great Court. The most elaborate section is the west front, which is the first vista of a visitor entering through the gates of the Great Court, which has Corinthian Pillars and the ceremonial Great Hall.

The University project suffered the same problems as Register House and nearly all building work was abandoned during war with France, for financial reasons, especially because of the lack of the promised government assistance.

Adam's designs were never completed and the architectural management was taken over by Playfair who remodelled the designs with some reference to Adam's designs.

Adam's London Buildings

Apsley House, No. 1 London, (1771-1778)

It was originally built in red brick by Robert Adam between 1771 and 1778 for Lord Chancellor Baron Apsley who later became the 2nd Earl Bathurst, and who gave the house its name. The house was commissioned to be built on the site of a lodge house to Hyde Park and remains one of the most famous London addresses.

Portland Place (1773)

Portland Place was designed by the Adam brothers, Robert and James in 1773, for the Duke of Portland. Little remains of their original design after the developments in recent years and also the alterations made by John Nash when he created his processional route from Carlton House to Regent's Park. However, there still remain a few of the Georgian terraced houses designed by the brothers.