Why was Palladianism becoming less popular in England when Robert Adam returned in 1758?

When Robert Adam returned to England in 1758, Palladianism was losing its appeal because the public was ready for a new architectural style. By the mid-18th century, the strict adherence to Palladian rules had often devolved into a sterile academic formula, lacking the original forcefulness and poetry of Andrea Palladio's work.12

Furthermore, Adam himself was a vocal critic of the Burlington (Palladian) school, specifically challenging their use of heavy architectural features in interior design. As interest in classical remains grew, architects and the public began to favor a style that offered more lightness and freedom in the use of classical elements. This shift toward Neoclassicism allowed for a fresh, decorative synthesis of various influences—including Roman archaeology and Italian Renaissance ornamentation—that contrasted with the rigid, complicated systems of the Palladian movement.31