Abstract
The second half of the 19th century in Britain saw a big housing boom for the middle classes. One of their most influential models was the British country houses of the aristocracy, which would consist mainly of a hall, a dining room, and a drawing room to entertain guests. The houses would not be a dwelling simply for a family but a place primarily for the reception of visitors. Baillie Scott criticized the social function of the houses and gave primary consideration to the daily routine of its occupants. Based on this idea, Scott transformed the hall, which had formerly been used only for formal assembly or just a passage, into an interactive space for the family group, connecting or merging drawing room and dining room. By creating "simplicity" and "homely comfort," the transformation of the hall led to the establishment of the "living room" for the family in a modern society.
