James Playfair
Encyclopedia
James Playfair was a Scottish architect
who worked largely in the Neoclassical
tradition. He was born in Benvie near Dundee
, where his father was the parish minister. He was the brother of William Playfair
the engineer, and the mathematician John Playfair
. His son, William Henry Playfair
(1790–1857), was also a celebrated architect, responsible for many of the buildings in Edinburgh’s
New Town
.
James Playfair's works include Melville Castle
in Midlothian
and Townley Hall in Ireland
. His most famous building is Cairness House
(1791–1797), in Aberdeenshire
, which used revolutionary forms of Neoclassicism and is unique in British architecture of the period. Cairness House shows the influence of the French architects Étienne-Louis Boullée
and Claude Nicholas Ledoux, and is also notable for having the earliest complete Egyptian room in Britain.
On his death in 1794, most of Playfair’s papers were bought by his close friend Sir John Soane and are now housed at Sir John Soane's Museum in London.
http://www.castlehillsberwick.com/playfairexhibition/
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who worked largely in the Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
tradition. He was born in Benvie near Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, where his father was the parish minister. He was the brother of William Playfair
William Playfair
William Playfair was a Scottish engineer and political economist, the founder of graphical methods of statistics....
the engineer, and the mathematician John Playfair
John Playfair
John Playfair FRSE, FRS was a Scottish scientist and mathematician, and a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He is perhaps best known for his book Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth , which summarized the work of James Hutton...
. His son, William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair
William Henry Playfair FRSE was one of the greatest Scottish architects of the 19th century, designer of many of Edinburgh's neo-classical landmarks in the New Town....
(1790–1857), was also a celebrated architect, responsible for many of the buildings in Edinburgh’s
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
New Town
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
.
James Playfair's works include Melville Castle
Melville Castle
Melville Castle is a three-storey Gothic castellated mansion situated less than a mile west-south-west of Dalkeith, Midlothian, near the North Esk....
in Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
and Townley Hall in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His most famous building is Cairness House
Cairness House
Cairness House, south of Fraserburgh in the County of Aberdeenshire, is the largest and finest country house in Buchan and one of the great houses of Scotland. It was built between 1791 and 1797 to designs by architect James Playfair and replaced an earlier house of 1781 by Robert Burn, which was...
(1791–1797), in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, which used revolutionary forms of Neoclassicism and is unique in British architecture of the period. Cairness House shows the influence of the French architects Étienne-Louis Boullée
Étienne-Louis Boullée
Étienne-Louis Boullée was a visionary French neoclassical architect whose work greatly influenced contemporary architects and is still influential today.- Life :...
and Claude Nicholas Ledoux, and is also notable for having the earliest complete Egyptian room in Britain.
On his death in 1794, most of Playfair’s papers were bought by his close friend Sir John Soane and are now housed at Sir John Soane's Museum in London.
Sources
External links
http://www.castlehillsberwick.com/playfairexhibition/