Whether you are restoring an original masterpiece or building a faithful reproduction, thought must be given to the finer details of the staircase. This applies equally to period and contemporary designs.
Whilst traditional or period staircases can be easily reproduced by our expert craftsmen, there are some things that we can’t pull out of the hat, such as timber species that were prevalent many years ago but are no longer available, and the same applies for timber sizes. What was a solid piece of 100 mm x 100 mm Australian Red Cedar handrail a century ago, may these days need to be laminated out of two pieces of 100mm x 50 mm in a different species of timber altogether, such as Honduras mahogany or similar.
The following is a guide to the most popular architectural styles that have been built in Australia over the past two hundred years.
Colonial & Early Victorian
1836 to 1870
The Colonial style is notable for its symmetry. A central front entrance with windows either side and wide verandahs are typical characteristics of the Colonial period. It is not uncommon for the verandah to encircle the entire structure. Usually single story buildings, Colonial homes are simple in style and often feature subtle touches of the Georgian or Classical detailing that were popular in Britain in the mid-19th century. The Colonial style expresses a sense of dignity and spaciousness. The mouldings of the era are simple. Having few decorative elements, they typically feature straight lines with smaller detail at the top.
Victorian
1840s to 1901
The Victorian style is typically elaborate and richly detailed. Its main characteristics are balance, proportion and elegance. This architectural style refers to the reign of England’s Queen Victoria, which began in 1839. The period is commonly divided into Early Victorian (1840 to 1865) Mid-Victorian (1865 to 1880) and Late Victorian (1880 to 1900). During the Victorian era, Georgian and Regency styles were the dominant styles for public buildings, while Gothic was the style of choice for most churches. Grand residences built in the Victorian period were designed to exude affluence and express social standing through the size and detailing of the home. They were a reflection of the progress and prosperity of England’s colonies. Mouldings of the Victorian era tended to be elaborate and rich in detail. Door blocks were a common feature and many of the larger Victorian homes incorporated highly decorative 2 and 3-piece skirtings.
Georgian
1826 to the 1860s
This architectural style is named after England’s four King Georges and draws heavily on classical influences. It is typified by formality, straight lines and fine detail. Georgian designs are symmetrical. Paired chimneys as well as a decorative “crowns” above the main entrance are commonly featured
Federation
1890s to 1915
Australian Federation architecture has a wide variety of influences and a dozen distinct “sub-styles”. Classical motifs were commonly featured in Federation-era public buildings and were used to express authority, wealth and a sense of culture. The Gothic style and, later, the Romanesque (then popular in the United States) were often applied to churches during this period. Queen Anne, Arts and Crafts and Bungalow designs were typically the choice of the day for homes.
Edwardian
1901 to 1910
Named for Edward VII, who ascended to the English throne after the death of
Queen Victoria, the Edwardian architectural era is characterised by highly decorative ornamentation in its early period. Later, the ornamentation was pared back and a simpler, more masculine look prevailed.
Art Nouveau
1890 to 1914
The first truly modern architectural design style, Art Nouveau represents a rejection of the Industrial Revolution’s mass production techniques. It departs from earlier architectural practices of refining historical and traditional designs and, instead, looks to nature for inspiration. Its underlying idea is to elevate the decorative arts to the level of the fine arts by applying high standards of craftsmanship in the design of everyday objects. Art Nouveau designers adorned their buildings and interiors with stylised flowers, vines and other motifs taken from nature.
Californian Bungalow & Between the Wars
1916 to 1940s
In Australian society, the era of mass communications technology brought with it an expanded interest in the cultures of overseas countries - particularly in things American. The demand for new housing was high after 1918. Functional simplicity was the order of the day. Californian Bungalows, with their asymmetrical facades, were less ornate and less formal than Queen Anne homes. They were the style of choice by the 1920s
Art Deco
1930’s to 1940’s
Heavily influenced by the Paris Exhibition of 1925 and the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, style incorporates the zigzags and geometrical shapes of cubism as designs inspired by ancient Egypt. Art Deco homes and public buildings typically feature facades with zigzags and stylised floral, geometric and “sunrise” motifs.
Contemporary
Present
Contemporary stairs are difficult to define due to the fact that contemporary architecture in its purest form hasn’t been designed yet. Contemporary stairs can be shown in a pictorial sense, however because they are designs of the moment, they are not yet classified in a period of their own, in the same way Victorian or Federation styles are.
