William Bruce (architect)

Sir William Bruce of Kinross, 1st Baronet (* 1630 in Blair Hall, Fife (Scotland ); † January 1, 1710 ) was a Scottish architect of the Palladian. He is considered the founder of the "classical architecture" in Scotland.

Life

William Bruce was the second son of the local Laird Robert Bruce of Blair Hall, a dedicated partisan of the Stuarts. Even William pursued his life this political direction. In 1665 he acquired the property Balcaskie at St. Monans. 1668 Charles II raised him to the Lord, and first baronet of Balcaskie; In 1671 he appointed him to the responsible architect and consultant for the royal palaces ( King's Surveyor and Master of Works). In 1675 he bought lands around Loch Leven and the City of Kinross. In 1698 he sold land and title Balcaskie to Sir Robert Anstruther of Balcaskie.

From 1669-1674 he was a Member of Parliament for Fifeshire and Kinross -shire from 1681-1682. His hopes to ascend into the higher nobility, however, were not fulfilled. After the death of his masters and patron Charles II and the Glorious Revolution 1688/89 Sir William fell out of favor as a Jacobite and was until his death arrested again and again, though never convicted.

Sir William was with Mary Halkett, daughter of Sir James Halkett, married, with whom he had two children: Anne Bruce and Sir John Bruce, 2nd Bt († 1710).

Work

William Bruce is one of the most important pioneers of classical - Palladian architecture in Scotland and Britain. As an important and characteristic work can be exemplified particularly mentioned: the basic new construction of the mansion of his first estate Balcaskie, the comprehensive expansion and remodeling of Holyrood Palace to a contemporary baroque palace, the construction of Hopetoun House and the representative extension Thirlestane Castle.

Being in many ways, perhaps most important work was his second country seat Kinross House with reaching through the gardens artfully landscaped sightline to Loch Leven Castle, the lord of the castle he had grown through the acquisition of lands in 1675.

Thirlestane Castle, 1670-1676

Holyrood Palace, 1671-1681

Hopetoun House, circa 1700