Robert Adam 1728 92

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One of the most celebrated books in architectural history, this volume consists of 106 illustrated plates that influenced generations of British and American architectural and furniture designs.

The bridge has always stood as a transitional structure - not purely a work of engineering, nor simply a work of architecture. Its functional requirements are more stringent than those of the average building; it not only must stand up; it must stand up, support those who cross it, and effectively span the space over which it stands. As Samuel Johnson said, "the first excellence of a bridge is strength ... for a bridge that cannot stand, however beautiful, will boast its beauty but a little while." The Scottish architect Robert Adam (1728-92) understood these precepts well, continually building bridges that were not just structurally sound, but also aesthetically pleasing. Unlike his contemporaries, Adam did not view bridges as mere skeletons upon which to apply ornament. Rather, he sought to achieve architectural totality, incorporating his bridge designs into greater architectural programs, thereby producing aesthetically pleasing and contextually specific designs. From the Pulteney Bridge in Bath to the ruined arch and viaduct at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, The Bridges of Robert Adam: A Fanciful and Picturesque Tour will take the reader across Britain, shedding new light on an understudied aspect of the great architect's career.

No one contributed more to the artistic eminence of 'Age of Elegance' than Robert Adam (1728-92), the pre-eminent architect of his day whose expertise and imagination extended also to interior design, furniture and garden design. His legacy has echoed through design ever since, his name synonymous with elegance, the Enlightenment, of the best features of the eighteenth century. In this fascinating biography, Roderick Graham follows Adam's life and career from schooldays in Edinburgh through study in Italy and the establishment of his architectural practice in London. It explains his passionate ambition, not only to excel as an architect, but to be accepted as a gentleman in that most snobbish period of our history.

A look at the lives of famous Scottish people through history and up to the modern day.

Providing a pictorial survey of Robert Adam's distinctive architectural style, this book looks at the architecture, furniture and interior design from some of his most notable town and country houses.