Playfair, William Henry, 1790-1857 (architect)
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1790-1857
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:
Moldings of Ornament for Drums of Skylights in Staircases of Upper Museum, 27th August 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/77
Scope and Contents
Elevation showing section cut through skylight drum
Dates:
27th August 1818
Mouldings and Ornament for Drums of the Upper Museum, 23th July 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/72
Scope and Contents
simple elevation of drums
this elevation shows the outside moulding and simple ornament of drums. Also there are some guiders-line of dropping lines of the roof.
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen+red ink pen watercolor (pink)
this elevation shows the outside moulding and simple ornament of drums. Also there are some guiders-line of dropping lines of the roof.
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen+red ink pen watercolor (pink)
Dates:
23th July 1818
Ornamental Frieze Below Flat Ceiling in Upper Museum, 7th October 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/81
Scope and Contents
Detail elevation with shading of decorative frieze below flat ceiling and small section on the side
Dates:
7th October 1818
Ornamented Frieze Below Flat Ceiling in Upper Museum, 7th October 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/83
Scope and Contents
Detailed full size elevation of ornamental frieze with shading
Dates:
7th October 1818
Ornamented Frieze of Great Entablature. Upper Museum., 14th October 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/84
Scope and Contents
Detailed full size elevation of ornamental frieze with shading
Dates:
14th October 1818
Ornaments for Ceiling of Great Staircase to Museum, 22nd February 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/95
Scope and Contents
Ceiling plan showing partial decorative detail with section through the ornament
Dates:
22nd February 1819
Ornaments (Full Size) for Ceiling of Great Staircase to Upper Museum, 21st May 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/115
Scope and Contents
Partial plan of ceiling ornaments
Dates:
21st May 1819
Ornaments (Full Size) for Ceiling of Lower Gallery of Museum, 21st April 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/104
Scope and Contents
Ornamental moulding detail of the ceiling with the section showing numbers of sunk pannels, and detail of sunk panels.
Dates:
21st April 1819
Patera (Full Size) for Ceiling of Chemistry Class Room, 8th July 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/134
Scope and Contents
Elevation detail of ceiling patera.
On the reverse of the drawing: Sketches on back
On the reverse of the drawing: Sketches on back
Dates:
8th July 1819
Patera in Flat Ceiling of Upper Museum, 6th October 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/82
Scope and Contents
Detailed of ceiling ornament with shading and section through the middle
Dates:
6th October 1818