There was a very simple reason why the great British architect Robert Adam used Stucco and Paint instead of tapestries and upholstery when designing Dining Rooms such as this one in Lansdowne House: So the smell of roast suckling pig wouldn't hang in the room.
"The eating rooms are considered as the apartments of conversation, in which we are to pass a great part of our time. This renders it desirable to have them fitted up with elegance and splendor, but in a style different from that of other apartments. Instead of being hung with damask, tapestry & c. they are always finished with stucco, and adorned with statues and paintings, that they may not retain the smell of the victuals."
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I learn something every time I visit! (Your posting conjures up those stories I've heard of well-dressed dinner guests wiping their hands on the household dogs.)
ReplyDeleteMmmm pork crackling and apple sauce. Those guys knew how to live.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what he was like to work for.
ReplyDeleteLove his plaster designs!
Fantastic, I love how you detailed his reasoning and logicality for using stucco. I had no idea, nor would I have ever guessed.
ReplyDelete-Adam Ahmed
You never see this kind of stucco anymore. The attention to detail is amazing and the workers who did the project are equally amazing, what talent!
ReplyDeleteRobert Adam, the renowned British architect, chose to use stucco and paint instead of tapestries and upholstery in dining rooms for a specific practical reason. He wanted to prevent the lingering smell of food, particularly roast suckling pig, from permeating the room. Dining rooms were considered spaces for conversation and spending a significant amount of time, so Adam opted for an elegant and splendid design that would not retain odors. Stucco and painted finishes, along with statues and paintings, provided a suitable alternative to traditional fabric coverings, ensuring a fresh and inviting atmosphere in the dining space.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes from Stucco contractors Calgary