Robert Adam (architect, born 1948) explained

Robert Adam
Honorific Prefix:Professor
Nationality:British
Citizenship:UK
Alma Mater:University of Westminster
Era:1980s–present
Awards:Driehaus Architecture Prize
Website:Official website

Robert Adam (born 1948) is a Driehaus Architecture Prize winning British architect, urban designer and author, known for championing classical and traditional styles. Adam is a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde and Design Council Expert.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

His career was the subject of Richard John's Robert Adam and the Search for a Modern Classicism, a survey of Adam's projects with a foreword by Charles, Prince of Wales.[7] [8]

Education and early career

Adam attended the University of Westminster. In 1973, he won the British School at Rome's Rome Prize in Architecture.

Adam practiced as an architect, working part-time as a freelance architectural journalist until 1977, when he became partner at a firm in Winchester. In 1992, he founded Robert Adam Architects there.[9] [2]

In 2021, he was awarded Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Oxford Brookes University.

Work

Edinburgh Forthside

Adam was appointed master-planner of Edinburgh Forthside in which capacity he designed streetscapes of low-rise buildings in Leith and Granton.[10]

Adam prescribed strict design codes on the area's developers so that both modern and traditional architects could build alongside one another without clashing. Builders had to adhere to guidelines on size, materials and proportions. Adam also laid out rules on how the buildings relate to the streets such as a ban on glass facades.[11]

Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library

Adam designed Oxford University’s Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library, which opened in 2001 and incorporated Oxford's Ashmolean Museum collections. The principal building is a circular library, with a smaller circular entrance onto the street, and attached wings arranged around internal courtyards. His design referenced ancient Greek architecture, specifically the Temple of Apollo at Bassae.[12]

Ashley Park

Ashley Park, Hampshire, a new country house, completed in 2004, was the first new building to gain permission under 1997 English planning regulations that allowed major new houses in the countryside. It was described by the government inspector that granted the permission as, "an innovative approach to the classical traditions, re-interpreted for the 21st century."[13]

198–202, Piccadilly

198–202 Piccadilly, London, an office development with ground floor retail, was completed in 2007. The classical building was designed to fit within the established historic setting. An octagonal tower marks the corner of the site and, at the upper levels, a colonnaded glass rooftop pavilion screens the plant rooms. Each façade is detailed to reflect the character of that street and the design incorporates cast bronze column capitals by classical sculptor, Alexander Stoddart.[14]

Books

Exhibits

Pembroke Table (1986), a drop-leaf table designed by Robert Adam in the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, cited by the museum as "an example of the revivalism that has become a significant, if much debated, part of 1980s architecture and design."[18]

Tower of the Orders – A drawing by Adam, displayed at RIBA, intended to represent the "continuity of classicism with the antique architectural orders".[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Design Council announces new network of design experts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211130114300/https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/design-council-announces-new-network-design-experts . 30 November 2021 . 30 November 2021 . Design Council.
  2. Web site: Architect Robert Adam A Place at The Table. 2021-05-21. WTTW. 22 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420134338/http://www.wsj.com/articles/DJFVW00020121002e8a2rvmti?mod=undefined. 2021-04-20. live.
  3. Web site: Athens looks silly on the Dilly. 29 July 2007. 2021-05-21. The Guardian. Bayley. Stephen. https://web.archive.org/web/20210305120207/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/jul/29/communities.architecture. 2021-03-05. live.
  4. News: Hidden Passions. The Guardian. 24 July 2006. 12 July 2021. London. 12 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712213546/https://www.theguardian.com/profile/robertadam. live.
  5. Web site: Our Staff. 2021-05-21. University of Strathclyde. https://web.archive.org/web/20170608172341/http://www.strath.ac.uk/engineering/architecture/aboutthedepartment/ourstaff/. 2017-06-08. live.
  6. Web site: Classical Architects – Traditional Architects, Winchester, Hampshire – Robert Adam . 2022-07-06 . www.robertadamarchitect.com . en . 6 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706204425/https://www.robertadamarchitect.com/about . live .
  7. Book: WorldCat listing. 800210398. 21 May 2021. 5 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220705204430/https://www.worldcat.org/title/robert-adam-the-search-for-a-modern-classicism/oclc/800210398. live.
  8. News: Cornucopia of new Classical country houses. 7 March 2011. 2021-05-21. The Times. Binney. subscription. Marcus. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521162354/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cornucopia-of-new-classical-country-houses-hdpsv5gfb8d. 2021-05-21. live.
  9. News: Robert Adam leaves firm he founded to start a new one. Napier. Andrew. 14 July 2020. 2021-05-21. Hampshire Chronicle. 21 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521165540/https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/18569578.robert-adam-leaves-firm-founded-start-new-one/. live.
  10. Web site: Eternal sunshine of the spotless redevelopment. 7 March 2005. 2021-05-21. The Guardian. https://web.archive.org/web/20160220191741/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2005/mar/07/architecture.regeneration. 2016-02-20. live.
  11. News: Adam for a New Generation. Pearman. Hugh. 6 March 2005. 2021-05-21. The Times. 21 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521165540/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/adam-for-a-new-generation-qwl8rm3kfjt. live. subscription.
  12. Web site: Sackler Library, Oxford, UK. 2021-05-21. Manchester History. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521160134/https://manchesterhistory.net/architecture/2000/sacklerlibrary.html. 2021-05-21. live.
  13. Web site: New generation of manors born . . 22 June 2002 . 25 November 2021 . 25 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211125214302/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jun/22/ruralaffairs.society . live .
  14. Web site: Olcayto . Rory . 5 June 2007 . Piccadilly's classical cover up . 2022-07-06 . Building . en . 6 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706204426/https://www.building.co.uk/piccadillys-classical-cover-up/3088480.article . live .
  15. Web site: 9780670844661: Classical Architecture: A Complete Handbook – AbeBooks – Robert Adam: 0670844667 . 5 July 2022 . 5 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220705204430/https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn/9780670844661?cm_sp=bdp-_-ISBN10-_-PLP . live .
  16. Book: Worldcat listing. 1048888805. 2021-05-21. live. 21 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521173239/https://www.worldcat.org/title/globalisation-of-modern-architecture-the-impact-of-politics-economics-and-social-change-on-architecture-and-urban-design-since-1990/oclc/1048888805.
  17. Book: Amazon.co.uk . en-us . .
  18. Web site: Victoria and Albert Museum item 0145021. 2021-05-21. Victoria and Albert Museum. live. 21 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521165538/https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O145021/pembroke-table-table-adam-robert-riba/.
  19. Book: Adam, Robert . 1986 . The tower of the orders . 2022-07-06 . English . 642577094 . 27 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211127185224/https://www.worldcat.org/title/tower-of-the-orders/oclc/642577094 . live .

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