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Playfair, William Henry, 1790-1857 (architect)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1790 - 1857

Biography

The architect William Henry Playfair was born in Russell Square, London, July 1789. On the death of his father, Playfair was sent to reside with his uncle in Edinburgh. Professor John Playfair, mathematician and geologist and a leading figure in the Edinburgh Enlightenment, took control of his nephew's education. Following his father's profession, the young Playfair studied under William Starke of Glasgow. His first public appointment was the laying out of part of the New Town in Edinburgh in 1815.

Then, after a visit to France in 1816, he established himself professionally by winning the commission in 1817 to complete the unfinished University buildings (leaving the front as designed by Robert and James Adam). He also designed the city's Royal Terrace and Regent Terrace on the Calton Hill estate; the unfinished National Monument on Calton Hill; and, the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery on the Mound. While Playfair's most important works in Edinburgh have been executed in the Greek revivalist or classical style - earning for Edinburgh the title of 'Athens of the North' - he was competent in other styles too. He designed New College for the ten newly established Free Church of Scotland, a jagged-lined rendering of the Gothic style. He also built country houses and mansions in the Italianate and Tudor styles.

Playfair died in Edinburgh after a long illness on 27 May 1857.

Found in 163 Collections and/or Records:

Plan of Archway & for Supporting Paving of Museum, 1st July 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/21
Scope and Contents Floorplan illustrating the bearing structure supporting the paving of Museum the little apertures in the walls indicates the exact position and dimensions of the ventilation openings the drawing illustrates the disposition of the walls at the basement level as well as the form of the arches supporting the ground floor of the museum On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen, watercolour layer...
Dates: 1st July 1817
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of Ceiling of Upper Gallery of Museum, and of Great Staircase, 24th February 1819

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/96
Scope and Contents

Three different ceiling plans showing moulding detail

Dates: 24th February 1819
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of Ceiling of Upper Museum, 23rd August 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/75
Scope and Contents

Finely detailed line drawing of ceiling with measurements and descriptions of each element

Dates: 23rd August 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of framing forming recesses & c. & staircases to Galleries Southern end of Museum, 20th February 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/38
Scope and Contents

floorplan illustrating the wood framing arrangement around the staircases at the southern end of museum

symmetrical staircases beside cabinets. Wood framing meant to shape the interior symmetrically despite the differences in perimetral walls. Rich index of structural elements

 On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen + watercoulor layers (pink, deep pink, yellow, orange)

Dates: 20th February 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of Ground Floor of the Museum, 2nd July 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/15
Scope and Contents Plan of Ground Floor of the Museum new scale new format( the paper is much smaller than others-maybe due to a later trim) the colour of the columns, pillars and doors are the same showing the arrangement of columns showing entrance only in the middle and at the right hand side of the plane symmetry is achieved through addition of false doors (see left hand staircase? On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink...
Dates: 2nd July 1817
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of Ionic Capitol for Colums in Upper Museum, 1st July 1819

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/121
Scope and Contents

Partial section of column drum and elevation of Ionic capitol

Dates: 1st July 1819
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of Stairs to Class Rooms for Chemistry & Natural History, 4th February 1819

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/90
Scope and Contents

Plan of staircase showing section through first and second landing

Dates: 4th February 1819
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of the First Floor of the Building at the South Western Angle explaining the arrangement below seating of Practice of Physics, 2nd September 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/2
Scope and Contents

Floorplan of First Floor highlighting wooden structure details below seating

wooden structure

On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour layers (pink, yellow, orange, dark pink) pencil notes probably added later

Dates: 2nd September 1817
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of the First Floor of the Building at the South Western Angle showing seating of Practice of Physics, 3rd September 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/3
Scope and Contents Floorplan of First Floor highlighting wooden seating in Practice of Physics Room later addition of pencil sketches. In the Practice of Physics room they are referring to the structure below the seating, to be seen in Plan N°2 i.e. P1[2] Other notes and sketches are highlighting details of the eastern staircase. The right hand side of the drawing trimmed of a few cm > the caption about the drawing scale is partly lost On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen red...
Dates: 3rd September 1817
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Plan of the Foundations of the Building at the South West Angle, 1st September 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/1
Scope and Contents Floorplan of foundations level section details of drain system -small and large - section detail of stone pier section detail of the wall of West façade at its ground level right hand side of the drawing trimmed of a few cm > part of details of the West Wall Section have been lost together with the caption about the drawing scale. Some additions have been made later in pencil, probably due to modifications to the drain system. Damage in the drawing (hole on the bigger part of...
Dates: 1st September 1817
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

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