How did Robert Adam’s later work at Culzean Castle differ from his Neoclassical interiors?

Robert Adam’s work at Culzean Castle represents a significant departure from his earlier, signature Neoclassical interiors. While his mature style—often characterized by delicate, elaborate decoration and a "lightness" of classical elements—defined his earlier domestic commissions, his later work at Culzean embraced a romantic, castellated style.123

Instead of the refined, symmetrical Neoclassical aesthetic, Culzean Castle utilizes the "idiom of fortification" as a playful veneer, designed to appear as though it grew organically from the rugged coastal rocks. This shift toward the neo-Gothic reflects a broader interest in romanticism during his later career in the 1780s. Despite this stylistic pivot, the interior retains elements of his architectural mastery, most notably the colonnaded oval staircase, which serves as the building's compositional core and is lit dramatically from above. While his earlier work focused on meticulous, embroidery-like decorative detail, Culzean highlights his ability to synthesize grand, romantic exterior forms with sophisticated interior planning.132