The Victorian period was a rich one for residential architecture

Residential properties have constantly evolved to meet the standards and requirements of different time periods. It is very interesting to look at these evolutions and how designs have changed over time. This information can give some insights into how properties in the future may look and function. Victorian housing is among the most recognisable residential styles in our country and the properties are a defining feature in most of our towns and cities. The name refers to any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria and throughout those years a number of differing styles were born. During the early Victorian era houses were influenced by the classicism of Regency styles but these fell from favour as affluence rose. By the 1850s the Italianate style had gained influence on domestic architecture. In the same period the buildings also became more and more influenced by the Gothic Revival.Aside from general architectural influences, the progressive change in style resulted from a number of other factors. During the 1850s the abolition of tax on glass and bricks made them both a cheap and sustainable material. The rise of the railway also allowed homes to be built in different locations, with the benefits of low costs, standard sizes and simple construction methods.Building regulations also had a prominent introduction during this time. These rules included changes in how people viewed and dealt with sanitisation, the introduction of hot and cold running water in homes, and several advances in the required integrity of structures.At Coffey Architects we have undertaken a number of residential property projects that have involved remodelling, extensions, renovations, and new builds. The first three of these have seen us work on a number of properties from the Victorian era. We always strive to retain the original features of these homes so they can be preserved. At the same time we work hard for our clients to make their ideas come to life, particularly if they want to add modern touches to the homes.