The Downing Plan was the brainchild of English Architect, George Downing. He first unveiled the designs in 1842, and they quickly gained popularity and spread rapidly across the country. The plan featured a row house design with stylized Greek Revival detail that was perfect for urban spaces. The style was an instant hit in crowded cities such as London and Manchester, and its legacy extends to this day. The salient features of the Downing Plan are the small, narrow db doorways and windows, as well as the symmetrical arrangement of the brickwork. The columns, capitals, and cornices give structure to the overall design of the house and reflect the well-proportioned elements which has been one of the hallmarks of Art Deco architecture. The house itself consists of an entrance hall, with access to a vestibule, saloon, library, and drawing rooms. There are a total of eight bedrooms, three with the en suite arrangement, and the bathroom accessed by an internal door on the second floor. This parlor-style layout was designed to look modern and stylish, with a heavy emphasis on the features of Greek Revival styling.The Downing House Plan
The Downing Plan house designs were also influenced by an emerging trend of the times - the preference for smaller houses. The plan incorporates narrow and low structures, designed to fit onto a small urban plot. These designs also incorporated the newest materials at the time, such as cast-iron and hammered structural glass. The facades of the buildings also featured intricate details such as minute and neat appearance of the trim and capitals. The use of small, but still architecturally detailed spaces, was an innovation that helped to revolutionize the way that entire streets were designed. The designs were efficient, cost effective, and allowed a greater number of houses to be built. This efficiency led to an increased popularity of the plan, and it was used to design thousands of homes in Victorian cities. The features of the Downing Plan were often used as a jumping off point for more modern, individual house designs. A modern version of the plan, known as the “pocket house”, was created in the 1970s, and it featured minimal side setbacks, single-pane windows, and a striking roof line. This variation included more diagonally sloped roofs and became a popular option for big cities.The Downing Plan House Designs
The Downing Plan was created by George Downing in 1842 and wasn't the first time the architect had worked with a British Housing Method. The variations in the house plans reflect a range of architectural features, from the classical Greek Revival to a more modern Art Deco style. The designs are simple, yet still feature intricate details such as the use of sculpted capitals, columns, and ornamental trim. The doorway entrances, as well as the small and narrow windows are also iconic features of this house plan. The house plan has a very efficient layout with internal connecting rooms and the bathroom on the second floor accessed from a central hallway. The interior features also included a library, saloon, and drawing room, making the house an ideal place for entertaining. whereas the small house designs often omitted these rooms. The houses also featured a firebox and tiled hearth for the kitchen. The designs were also modified to integrate an entrance hall, storage rooms, and servants' quarters. These innovations helped to give the houses a modern aesthetic.Downing House Plan Explained
Variations of the Downing Plan are also incorporated in cottage house plans. The plan originally included a small entrance lobby and only two bedrooms, but the cottage plan helped to expand the designs. This variation often included a kitchen and a larger entrance hall, as well as a cook house and laundry room. The cottage plans use the same geometry as the Downing Plan, but with a variety of modifications. This includes the use of a wood-framed roof, rather than the plain pitched roof of the original. Features such as a gabled dormer, a bay window, or a series of small windows are also common additions to the cottage plans. The cottage plan also frequently includes a range of architectural features, such as curved eaves, protruding windows, quoin corners, and verandas. These features help to add a more traditional and elegant touch to the designs.The Downing Plan and Cottage House Plans
The Downing Plan features a characteristic slim and low block design. This creates narrow streetscapes and allows for the efficient use of a small amount of land. These linear designs are often arranged in rows to create cohesive streetscapes and a compact urban environment. The plan's classic elements, such as the doorways, windows, capitals, columns, and cornices all draw from the Greek Revival style. The centrepiece of the design is the entrance passageway, which often consists of a vestibule, lobby, saloon, library, and drawing room. These features of the plan have been adapted to suit modern needs and tastes. The designs typically feature larger rooms, increased ceiling heights, larger windows, and a modern kitchen. These updates give the house a contemporary flair and makes them an attractive option for those who want to live in an up-to-date residence.Downing House Plan Features
Many modern house plans have been based on the Downing Plan. These modern designs take elements of the original design such as the plan's efficient layout, and apply them to suit a modern lifestyle. This includes the addition of more modern materials such as glass and steel, which help to retain the house's airiness. Other updates include larger windows, higher ceilings, and the use of an open floor plan. This allows for abundant natural light to flow through the house and creates an inspiring and aesthetically pleasing home. Many of these modern versions also include features such as a kitchen island, a more spacious master bedroom, and an ensuite bathroom. Modern house plans based on the Downing Plan can be tailored to suit the individual needs of the homeowner. These versatile plans can be adapted to fit narrow, cramped urban areas, or they can be remodeled to fit a larger suburban plot. This way, a homeowner can customize a modern house without having to sacrifice the traditional styling of the Downing Plan.Modern House Plans Based on The Downing Plan
The Downing Plan has seen a long history of success due to its efficiency and cost-effective nature, but there are some drawbacks to consider when choosing a house based on this design. The small entrances and windows give the house a low-lying, intellectual appearance, which may not appeal to all buyers. The small interior spaces and unfashionable materials used in the original designs can make it difficult to update the house to suit a modern lifestyle. The use of heavy walls and tall, heavily trimmed ceilings can also create a sense of claustrophobia. However, modern adaptations of the house plan make it easier to incorporate features such as larger windows and an open floor plan, making it a more attractive option. The Downing Plan remains a popular choice for urban dwellers due to its efficient design and ability to fit onto a narrow lot. The traditional features of the design also appeal to buyers, and many homebuyers are still opting for an updated version of the plan.The Pros and Cons of The Downing Plan
The Downing Plan is a product of George Downing, who initially unveiled the plans in 1842. He was an English architect who was inspired by the Greek Revival style of architecture, and he drew on those influences to create his own unique designs. The designs are almost identical to the traditional Georgian-style square rows that were common during the mid 19th century. The modifications he made to the design, such as narrowing the footprint and adding details such as the columns, capitals, and cornices, helped to give the houses a more modern look. Downing's designs also featured smaller doors and windows, which made the houses more efficient and cost-effective. The smaller scale of his real estate allowed for more houses to be built in tight urban areas.History of The Downing House Plan and Architecture
The Downing Plan has seen a long and illustrious history. It has been adapted to produce a wide range of modern housing styles, from traditional English townhouses to modern sleek designs. The plan was an efficient, cost-effective option that enabled builders to produce a large volume of dwellings in a short time. This efficiency led to an aquatic of residential blocks, all incorporating the same characteristic trim, doorways, and windows of Downing's design. Today, the plan is still in use and is seen as a classic and timeless design, thanks to the way it is adapted to modern tastes and lifestyles. Its traditional elements are often combined with modern touches to create newly build homes that have an elegant, timeless appeal.The Legacy of The Downing Plan
The Downing Plan is often used to create prefabricated houses, which are assembled from pre-fabricated parts. These parts are made from light steel frames, which are then finished with an insulated paneling to create a lightweight yet sturdy structure. Prefabricated houses based on the Downing Plan are often used for holiday homes, rental properties, and places of business. This type of construction allows for the rapid completion of a structure, and they can be fitted in any sort of terrain thanks to their simple construction. Prefabricated houses based on the Downing Plan are also an economical option, since they can be completed in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost that it takes to build a traditional house. This makes them an attractive option for those looking for a cost-effective housing solution.Downing Plan Prefab Houses