Pagoda of Kew Gardens, London
William Chambers, Pagoda of Kew Gardens, London, 1757-62
The English turned to Oriental models to replace the geometric gardens of French and Italian derivation; alongside neo-classical and Gothic buildings, the landscape garden came to be enriched by tea houses, pagodas, and small bridges. In this context the Pagoda at Kew Gardens exists between transgressions and impulses, translating in architecture what Chambers had presented in his Design of Chinese Buildings, Furniture, Dresses, Machines and Utensils (1757), a repertory of Oriental motifs based on designs made during a trip to China.
Apr 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 am
[...] highly refined settings; it finally led to the almost literal replication of buildings, such as the Pagoda in London’s Kew Gardens or the Tea Pavilion of the park of Schloss Sanssouci in Potsdam. This taste began to decline around [...]
Jan 13th, 2009 at 10:52 am
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