Playfair, William Henry, 1790-1857 (architect)
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 158 Collections and/or Records:
Section of Entablature of Venetian Windows in the Buildings at the South Western Angle, 24th February 1818
Section of Entablature of Venetian Windows in the Buildings at the South Western Angle
section showing the outline of the entablature showing the measurement detail of the craftsman showing the slope of windowsill
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour ( pink)
Section of Ionic Capitol of Columns in Upper Museum, 2nd July 1819
Detail section of Ionic volute and column in previous drawing
Section of Ionic Capitol of Columns in Upper Museum, 2nd July 1819
Detail section of Ionic Capitol
Section of the cornice of the Buildings at the North Western Angle, 26th February 1818
Section of the cornice
section showing the outline of the cornice showing the measurement detail of the craftsman showing the slope line on the top of the cornice
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour ( pink)
Section on Line ST (see in Drawing NO.3) of the Building at the South Western Angle, 9th September 1817
Section on Line WX (see in Drawing NO.3) of the Building at the South Western Angle, 10th September 1817
Section on Line YZ with Elevation of Circular Colonnade of the Building, 11th September 1817
Side Elevantion of Ironic Capital for Colonnade and Pilasters, for the colonnade of the Building at the South Western Angle, 19th June 1818
Side elevation of tonic capital
very simple black ink pen drawings showing the simple decoration pattern of the capital.
On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen
Sliding Door &ca for Chemistry Classroom, No Date
Construction details of sliding door configuration
"N.B. Two rollers. One at each corner at the bottom of the door. The wraught iron bar on which the roller is to run musy be quite level - and the grove in which it is placed run with lead. Plates and roller to be brass with steel axles."
Staircase Leading to the Upper Museum, 17th November 1818
Section and Elevation of staircase of upper museum
On the reverse of the drawing: Back of the drawing used for calculations