Art Nouveau is a late 19th and early 20th century art, architecture, and decoration style.
It’s characterised by designs of leaves and flowers with flowing lines and curves. It was at its peak between around 1890 and 1910.
Here are some of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings across England.
1. Royal Arcade, Norwich, Norfolk
The Royal Arcade in Norwich was built in 1899. The arcade features a stunning glass roof, intricate ironwork, and beautiful Art Nouveau designs that transport visitors back in time.
The arcade was designed by George Skipper, Norwich’s best known architect, who was responsible for many of the city’s commercial buildings and hotels.
Today, the arcade is home to various independent shops, boutiques, and cafes.
2. The Turkey Café, Leicester
Leicester architect Arthur Wakerley designed The Turkey Café for James Wesley, who owned the site and leased it to café owner John Winn.
The café opened in 1901 and became a popular meeting place for women to discuss the progress of women’s rights (men also gathered in the smoke room at the back of the café).
It was so popular that the building was expanded into next door.
3. Zara, Nottingham
Architect Albert Nelson Bromley built this beautiful store in Nottingham between 1902 and 1905 for Boots the Chemist. It might be the first use of Art Nouveau design on a shop front.
Since Boots vacated the site in 1972, it has passed through several hands and undergone internal alterations. However, several original cast-iron columns and capitals can still be seen inside Zara, who now occupy the building.
4. The former Everard’s Printing Works, Bristol
The Everard printing works in Bristol were built between 1900 and 1901 for Edward Everard, a founding member of the Bristol Master Printers’ and Allied Trades Association.
Everard’s name can be seen on the front of the building in a designed typeface. The works behind were demolished around 1970, leaving only the façade.
The Art Nouveau façade was designed by the architect, designer and ceramicist William James Neatby, also known for his tiles in Harrod’s Meat Hall.
It’s the largest decorative Doulton Carrara ware tile façade of its kind in Britain, a feature that was briefly popular in 20th century architecture but is rare today.
5. Waterstones, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
The former Emerson Chambers is one of Newcastle’s most notable buildings and one that visitors to the city centre can’t avoid.
The building dates to 1903 and was designed by architect Benjamin Simpson as a restaurant with shops and offices for Robert Emerson Jr. Its extravagant design brings together Art Nouveau style with Baroque.
The building has been home to several businesses over the years; today, it’s a Waterstones.
Bonus: a bar counter in Wednesbury, West Midlands
The Horse and Jockey dates from 1899 and is an excellent example of a suburban public house-hotel.
The pub still has many original features, including a splendid ceramic-fronted bar counter.
This extravagant and high-quality element is most likely manufactured by Craven Dunnil of Jackfield, as one of only 12 known examples remaining in England.
Further reading
Really interesting. Striking designs that I would not have been able to interpret as Art Nouveau. Now I can! Thank you.