Pride and Prejudice meets Gossip Girl in this Regency drama known as Bridgerton. Produced by Shonda Rhimes the popular romance series is based on books authored by Julia Quinn. The story revolves around Viscountess Violet Bridgerton, who takes to marrying her eight children after the death of her husband. After its premiere in 2020, it quickly rose to popularity because of its modern take on Regency romance. The series teleports the viewers back to the early 19th century, through costumes, dialogue and architecture. The series takes viewers back to the Regency era, during the social season when the nobility introduces marriageable youth into society.
The Bridgertons
The Bridgertons are one of the esteemed families of the ton. After the death of her husband, the late Viscount Edmund Bridgerton, Violet Bridgerton took it upon herself to guide her eight children as they manoeuvre through the workings of Regency Era London. Violet is the epitome of grace and poise and expects nothing less than her children. Despite having distinct personalities, the family shares a deep bond and understanding. Like many mothers within the ton, Violet desires for her children to marry not merely out of duty or societal expectations, but to experience the genuine love and connection she shared with Edmund.
The Bridgertons live in Grosvenor Square, one of the prestigious neighbourhoods in London. Their house is a grand yet elegant Georgian mansion. The mansion has a central block with two flanking wings connected by a waterline moulding. Although the mansion is built in brick, the variations in brick colour suggest the difference in construction periods for the central block and the wings. The grand entrance with a pediment and double-hung windows symbolising wealth is characteristic of Georgian architecture. The lush Ivy adorning the facade of the Bridgerton House is a thoughtful addition to the imagery. It symbolises longevity and maybe a hint at the enduring tradition and heritage of the Bridgerton name. It suggests the family’s fondness for nature. The graceful tendrils and verdant leaves convey a certain sense of romanticism and aesthetic beauty, providing privacy to the family from lurking passers-by.
Except for closeup shots of the foyer, common room, and occasional shots of the sibling’s bedrooms, the show withholds from the viewers the entire internal layout of the mansion. The cream-colored windows of the facade perfectly match the interior of the mansion; soft pastels with a hint of royal blue. They possess a sense of intimacy despite the grandeur. The colour palette for the interior of the Bridgerton House is soft pastels with a hint of royal blue. It is a fitting palette, for the soft pastel hues mirror the elegance and harmony of the family members while the royal blue hints at their status in society.
The Featheringtons
Lady Portia, the fierce matriarch, heads the Featherington household. She is a rather overbearing mother to her three daughters; Phillipa, Prudence and Penelope. Like Viscountess Bridgerton, she is determined to find a match for her daughters. Unlike her, however, Lady Portia’s intentions are that of climbing the social ranks more than finding a genuine match for her daughters. The Featheringtons are boastful and cunning, except for Penelope. Penelope Featherington is the youngest in the family. She is smart, introspective, sensitive and a bit of a wallflower. The Featherington mansion, located in Grosvenor square, showcases the mannerist style of architecture. Michael Angelo developed this style at the end of the Italian Renaissance. He took all the classical elements of the Renaissance and started implementing them differently. A pale-yellow limestone is used in the construction of this mansion. It also has double-hung windows but the window panes are much larger than normal which symbolizes greater wealth. The windows and doors have pediments and volutes, characteristic of mannerist architecture. The ornamental medallions on the facade with a sculpture and garland symbolise pride and pretension. The house’s interiors are characteristic of a bold colour palette and ornate furnishings. The walls are painted a drab olive green with gaudy golden patterns. It reflects Lady Featherington’s ostentatious nature, despite the family’s fluctuating financial situation.
Lady Danbury
Lady Danbury is one of the most influential figures in the elite social circles of London. She has a keen understanding of the happenings within the ton. Her opinions and judgement carry considerable weight, sometimes even influencing the Queen herself!
She serves as a mentor to the Bridgertons and a few others. She is known for her sharp wit and intelligence and doesn’t shy away from making bold remarks. She is a widow and doesn’t have any children of her own. Hence, she is often seen mentoring a family during the social seasons.
Lady Danbury’s villa is built in the Palladian style of architecture. Palladio, an Italian architect in the 1500s, developed the Palladian style. The most striking feature of this villa is the Piano nobile, the large central floor with the Corinthian capitals and a pediment. The villa can be broken into four distinct parts, the rusticated base, the piano nobile with the attic above it and the baluster which looks like a widow’s walk. The columns at the base are less ornate Doric columns, while the ones at the top are Corinthian, resonating with the strict and orderly nature of Lady Danbury. Similarly, the trees, plants, and shrubbery is reminiscent of the Bridgerton House, but the vegetation is orderly and tended to.
In conclusion, the architectural landscape of Bridgerton is a rich tapestry of styles, symbols and stories. The elegance of the Bridgerton house, the flamboyance of the Featherington household and the regal residence of Lady Danbury, each reflect the personalities of their owner. In the Regency era, societal norms often constrained individuals from speaking their minds freely. However, architecture and fashion emerged as powerful mediums through which individuals could express themselves. This dynamic is skillfully portrayed in Bridgerton, where the creators skillfully utilize these as tools to convey the characters’ innermost desires and motives. Apart from the architectural details discussed in this article, the fashion choices of these characters also conveyed what was unspoken.
References:
- Andriotis, M.E. (2020) Netflix’s ‘bridgerton’ filming locations: Inside the palaces, …, House Beautiful. Available at: https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a35100240/bridgerton-netflix-filming-locations-houses-homes/ (Accessed: 25 March 2024).
- Bridgerton (2024) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgerton#Cast_and_characters (Accessed: 25 March 2024).
- Peterson, P. (2023) Bridgerton TV series filming locations – London, Authentic Vacations. Available at: https://www.authenticvacations.com/top-10-bridgerton-film-locations (Accessed: 25 March 2024).
- Wiki, C. to B. (no date a) Agatha Danbury (netflix), Bridgerton Wiki. Available at: https://bridgerton.fandom.com/wiki/Agatha_Danbury_(Netflix)#cite_note-1x05_(QC)-2 (Accessed: 25 March 2024).
- Wiki, C. to B. (no date b) Portia Featherington (netflix), Bridgerton Wiki. Available at: https://bridgerton.fandom.com/wiki/Portia_Featherington_(Netflix) (Accessed: 25 March 2024).
- Wyetzner, M. (2022) Architect breaks down ‘Bridgerton’ mansions | architectural digest, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHwGDjVdmNY&t=363s (Accessed: 25 March 2024).
