222 Loudon's Encyclopaedia of 



because, in the analytical and critical remarks, with which we mean to 

 accompany these Designs, we intend to develope, as it were, incidentally, 

 and by little and little, all the principles of Architecture ; and also those of 

 Landscape-Gardening as connected with buildings. We consider this mode 

 of instruction as best calculated for those practical men who have not had 

 a sufficient education, or have not pursued such a course of reading in early 

 youth, as would enable them to enter at once on the perusal of discussions, 

 which must necessarily be, to a considerable extent, metaphysical. We 

 also consider this mode as by far the best adapted for initiating the general 

 reader in the principles of architectural taste ; and for enabling young per- 

 sons, and especially ladies, to educate themselves in Architecture, as an 

 elegant art. 



The improvement of the dwellings of the great mass of society through- 

 out the world, appears to us an object of such vast importance, as to be 

 well worth attempting, even though we may not all at once succeed to our 

 utmost wishes. In ameliorations necessarily involving considerable ex- 

 pense, much cannot be expected to be performed immediately; yet, by 

 making known the various particulars in which these ameliorations consist, 

 to those who are to derive important benefits from them, we may rest cer- 

 tain that, sooner or later, they will be effected. The efforts of Architects, 

 in all ages and countries, have hitherto been, for the most part, directed to 

 public buildings, and to the mansions of princes, noblemen, and men of 

 wealth ,• and what have hitherto been considered the inferior orders of 

 society have been, for the most part, left to become their own architects. 

 Hence the tardiness with which the improvements made in the accommo- 

 dation, arrangement, and exterior beauty of the mansions of the wealthy, 

 have found their way to the dwellings of the poor. The great object of 

 this work is, to show how the dwellings of the whole mass of society may 

 be equalised in point of all essential comforts, conveniences, and beauties. 



After studying with care all the various opinions delivered by different 

 architectural writers on the subject of the principles of their art, and 

 divesting ourselves, as much as possible, of all accidental associations and 

 temporary prejudices, we have arrived at the following conclusion : — that 

 the leading principle of Architecture, as a useful art, is fitness for the end 

 in view ; as an art of design, expression of the end in view ; and, as an art 

 of taste, expression of some particular architectural style. Those beauties 

 or effects which are the result of the first and second principles, are in their 

 nature permanent ; those which are the result of the third principle, are in 

 their nature temporary and accidental. 



All the various principles which come into operation, in the design and 

 construction of buildings, easily range themselves under these three funda- 

 mental principles. The fitness of a design for the end in view compre- 

 hends not only the fitness of the size, shape, number, relative position, 

 and other particulars of the interior divisions of a building, for the uses for 

 which they are intended ; but the fitness of the materials and construction, 

 with reference to the strength and durability which may be required ; and 

 the fitness of the expenditure for the means at the command of the builder. 

 In like manner, the principle of the expression of the purpose, or end in 

 view, applies not only to unity of expression in a building as a whole, but 

 to the separate expression of all the different parts of a building of the 

 purposes for which they are intended. So also the expression of archi- 

 tectural style applies not only to the building taken as a whole, which 

 must be in the same style throughout, but to all its component parts, which, 

 even to the most minute details, must belong to that style, and exhibit its 

 characteristics. 



Thus, as there are various uses to which buildings are devoted, so are 

 there various kinds of beauty of which they can be rendered expressive. 

 But, as all the uses to which buildings can be applied, all the arrangements 

 which are requisite for convenience or luxury, and all mechanical or che- 



