What is eclecticism in architecture and what is its history?

Discover what eclectic architecture is, its origins, and how it influences interior design today

There are many architectural styles: Classical, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque... Each one was marked by strict rules that differentiated it from the rest, showing unique characteristics that generated very specific atmospheres. However, there's an exception. This is the case of eclectic architecture.

If you want to discover its main characteristics, its history, and its influence on interior design today, delve into this article!

What is Eclecticism in architecture?

If we start from its etymology, the word “eclecticism” comes from the Greek “eklectos." “Ek” means “outside," “lectos” means “choose,” and “cism” means “doctrine." From the outset, the origin of the word sheds light on everything that eclecticism implies: the freedom to choose from a universe of options.

For more precision, we can define Eclecticism as a movement that mixes elements of different styles and periods of the history of art and architecture. Born in France, quickly exported throughout Europe, and then to the United States, the style manifested itself in the West between 1860 and the late 1920s.

History and evolution of Eclecticism in architecture

Eclectic architecture appears around the second half of the 19th century, and its origin is related to the progressive decline of classical architecture imposed by the Academy through Neoclassicism. An imposition that limited the freedom of architecture professionals to a series of strict rules and canons, which over time ceased to be desired.

It was then that eclectic architecture appeared, which integrated knowledge of the history of art with the science and technology of the moment in new buildings and allowed us to use any known architectural element. Architects began to experiment with the mixture of many of the existing styles, with characteristics of other movements such as Baroque, Western, or Renaissance.

In addition, to adapt to the needs of the moment, this movement took advantage of the new techniques and materials of industrial architecture. And the origin of Eclecticism in architecture was closely linked to the industrial revolutions that took place in Europe and the United States throughout the 19th century.

Characteristics of Eclecticism in Architecture

The main feature of Eclecticism is to combine two or more architectural styles in a new structure to achieve an original result. That is, it reflects some characteristics of the original styles but combines them with others to create something new.

One way to combine styles was to use designs and ideas from old works but with modern tools and materials. This revealed the great impact that the Industrial Revolution had in all aspects, including the use of new materials in construction such as steel, glass, and wrought iron.

Examples of Works with Eclectic Architecture

During the 19th century, works of all kinds were developed with an eclectic style, from government buildings to religious buildings or private residences. Some of the most relevant are the following:

1. Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires

Influenced by Italy and France, it was created by architects Tamburini, Meano, and Formal. Some spaces have characteristics of the Renaissance style, like the main hall, which also combines details of the Baroque period.

2. Palais de Justice de Bruxelles

Work of Belgian architect Joseph Poelaert, this construction integrates Neoclassical and Neobaroque elements. It inspired similar buildings in other parts of the world, such as Peru or Germany. It is considered one of the largest stone buildings in the world.

3. Villa Bianca in Greece

It is one of the most important examples of eclectic architecture in private buildings. Designed by Italian architect Pietro Arrigoni, this mansion was built during the second decade of the 20th century in the city of Thessaloniki. It combined features of Baroque, Modernist, and Renaissance architecture.

4. Opéra national de Paris

This building, also known as the Palais Garnier, is considered one of the architectural masterpieces of its time, mixing styles such as Neo-Baroque and Gothic. Designed by architect Charles Garnier, it is decorated with marble friezes, columns, and statues.

5. Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro

Inspired by the Opéra national de Paris and developed by architects Francisco de Oliveira Passos and Albert Guilbert, this eclectic-style building stands out for its columns and domes adorned with statues.

Eclectic interior design

The growth of eclectic architecture created a need for interior specialists who had the skill, understanding, and knowledge of the historical styles of the past to produce suitable interiors that accompany the exteriors. Thus, interior design professionals joined the eclectic movement.

While the clientele of these early decorators consisted exclusively of wealthy families and businesses, their work was regularly featured in popular publications such as "House and Garden," "House Beautiful," and "Ladies' Home Journal."

The publication of the lavish interiors of these magnificent homes helped spread eclectic architecture among the middle classes, and less extravagant imitations or the incorporation of similar decorative elements became a desirable feature of home décor.

Currently, Eclecticism in interior design is applied when professionals analyze their clients and lives before using the languages of different styles to materialize the spaces that people are going to inhabit. This results in places with a unique style, combining materials, colors, and shapes.

Each person is a mixture of their cultural heritage, the land where they were born, the corners they have visited, their tastes, their passions, and translating all these elements into a single space makes it a definitively eclectic place.

If you want to continue learning about different styles of architecture and even carry out your own project, you'll enjoy Domestika's online architecture courses. In addition, you can also discover everything you need to know about interior design in these online interior design courses where you will discover all the tricks for creating unique spaces with the best professionals. Time to get going!

To continue reading about architecture and interior design:

- Get started in the world of interior design and create new spaces with these 12 online interior design courses to start in 2023.

- Discover how architectural decisions can influence perception and determine human behavior in the article ¿Qué es la neuroarquitectura y cómo mejora la calidad de vida?

- Do you want to see some of the most impressive buildings on the planet? Discover them in Las historias detrás de los edificios más icónicos del mundo.