picturesque definition - Architecture Dictionary

picturesque

Like-a-picture, charming, quaint. Picturesque architecture and landscape architecture evolved in England in the 18th and 19th centuries, and influenced American architecture and landscapes in the 19th century; winding paths, asymmetrical compositions, rustic or exotic elements (see pagoda), and faux ruins were characteristic of picturesque architecture and landscapes. Picturesque settings were favored for their emotional associations.