What features made the Adam style different from earlier Palladian architecture?

The Adam style, developed by Robert Adam and his brother James, represented a departure from the rigid, academic formulas of Palladianism by introducing a new sense of lightness, freedom, and decorative synthesis.12

Key features that distinguished the Adam style from earlier Palladian architecture include:

• Freedom of Composition: Unlike Palladian architects, who adhered to strict classical rules, Adam felt free to recombine architectural elements in novel ways. For example, he might place Ionic capitals beneath a Doric triglyph frieze, a liberty a Palladian would not have taken.1
• Movement: Adam emphasized the concept of "movement"—the rise and fall, advance and recess, and diversity of form in a building’s parts—to enhance the picturesque quality of his compositions.1
• Interior Focus and Detail: While Palladianism was often concerned with exterior symmetry and rational order, the Adam style was essentially a decorative movement. Adam gave meticulous attention to every interior detail, from carpets to ornamentation, drawing inspiration from Roman archaeology, Italian Renaissance decoration, and contemporary French design.12
• Geometric Planning: Adam utilized a variety of contrasting, geometric room shapes to create a sense of surprise and variety, moving away from the more predictable layouts of the Palladian mold.2