Shaurya Chauhan

Sir Robert Smirke 15000769 2B

Sir Robert Smirke (1 October 1780 18 April 1867) was an Milestone Projects
English architect, one of the leaders of
Greek Revival architecture.
Background
Sir Robert Smirke was an English architect born in London on 1 October 1780,
the second son of the portrait painter Robert Smirke. He was one of the leaders
of Greek Revival architecture. He attended Aspley School, Aspley Guise,
Genera l Post Office, London Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire
Bedfordshire, where he studied Latin, Greek, French and drawing.

In May 1796 he began his study of architecture as a pupil of John Soane but left
after only a few months in early 1797 due to a personality clash with his teacher.

In 1796 he also began his studies at the Royal Academy winning the Silver Medal
that year.

Career
Lancaster House, London British Museum, London
Smirke travelled in France, Greece, Italy, and Sicily looking at Classical architecture and after his return in 1805, he set up
in practice in London.
He made his reputation with Covent Garden Theatre, London, the first public building in the capital to have a pure Greek Semi circular arches on facade openings
Doric portico. Thereafter he became an important protagonist of the Greek Revival.
His Milestone commissions includie the General Post Office, St Martin's Le Grand (18249demolished), the Custom
House (18257a rebuilding after the failure of the foundations of Laing's building), King's College, The Strand (18305),
and his master-piece, the prestigious British Museum, Bloomsbury (182346).
Style Usage of Dome to span large opening, inspired by
He was a professor of Classical theories and drew dome of the Pantheon
inspiration from Iconic buildings like the Pantheon and the
Parthenon.
Kings Building, London
During the early part of his career, he used the giant
orders and ornate elements from classical Greece with a Typical Greek temple facade with Ionic columns,
certain restraint. But, by the time he came to designing pediment & entablature.
the facade of the British Museum, he started using Greek
Classical elements lavishly, wrapping the whole front
portico in ionic colonnade.
Inspiration from Iconic Classic Greek buildings.
Covent of Garden Theatre Reading Room, British Museum

Sheriff Court, Perth

Elevation of The Northington Grange, recreating the

Pantheons facade on a smaller scale.
Dome Of The Pantheon
Temple of Athena, Prienne
British museum, London Inspiration for facade of British Museum