How did C. F. A. Voysey influence Art Nouveau? The answer lies here at 6 Carlton Hill. This is where architect and designer C. F. A. Voysey lived. English Heritage erected this blue plaque in 1995 to honor him.
C. F. A. Voysey was a leading figure in the English Arts and Crafts movement. He designed buildings and many items for homes. These included fabrics rugs wallpaper furniture clocks jewelry metalware and light fittings.
Charles Francis Annesley Voysey was born in 1857. His father Charles Voysey was a clergyman. Voysey trained as an architect. He worked for John Pollard Seddon and later George Devey. In 1881 Voysey started his own practice in London. Most of his building designs are from 1889 to 1911.
Voysey summarized his design ideas in two books. These were Reason as the Basis of Art and Individuality. He became a member of the Art Workers Guild in 1884. He became Master of the AWG in 1924. Voysey was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1927. In 1940 he received the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture.
Voysey’s style featured simplicity and clean lines. His designs often included nature-inspired elements. He rejected classical architecture. Instead he favored well-built simple houses. Voysey used materials like white roughcast walls and high pitched roofs. Massive chimneys were also common. His designs were widely copied across Europe.
Examples of his architectural work include Broadleys. This house is near Windermere. Another is The Orchard in Chorleywood. There is also The Pastures in North Luffenham. His style influenced many architects.
Voysey’s career declined after 1914. The Arts and Crafts style lost popularity. But later in life his work was appreciated again. Art historian Nikolaus Pevsner supported his work. Pevsner mentioned him in his book Pioneers of the Modern Movement.
One interesting fact is his work with Sanderson. Voysey designed a wallpaper factory for Arthur Sanderson & Sons in Chiswick. Sanderson Design Group returned to this building after restoration. The building is now known as Voysey House. It features restored elements like lattice steel windows. The restored building has an A-grade EPC rating.
Voysey died in 1941 in Winchester Hampshire. He left behind a legacy of design. His work continues to inspire architects and designers. His focus on simplicity and nature remains relevant today. This plaque reminds us of his contributions to architecture and design. It marks the place where he lived and created his influential work.