Italianate Architectural Characteristics

Italianate in Wales

• Located approximately two hours southwest of Liverpool, Portmeirion is a picturesque Italianate style village in Wales. The village was designed and built by environmentalist and architect Clough Williams-Ellis. It took him 50 years to complete the village. The cottages and castle of Portmeirion include many of the traditional Italianate characteristics including ornate porches, cupolas, towers and decorative brackets that are positioned underneath low-pitched roofs.

Italianate in America

• The Italianate style in the United States was primarily promoted by New York City born architect Alexander Jackson Davis. Davis' style was also influenced by the Greek Revival and Neoclassical styles. Although less decorative than the British Italianate, the American Italianate houses were rectangular in shape and generally two stories. They included decorative molding, tall windows and low, pitched roofs with wide, overhanging eaves.

Italianate in Australia

• Italianate reached its popularity in Melbourne, Australia in the mid-1800s. The Italianate style was combined with the Victorian style to create striking buildings. In addition to the flat roofs and balustrades common to the style, many of the buildings also included stucco siding and wrought iron railings.

Middle East Italianate

• Although the Middle East is most known for its Islamic archeological sites, Lebanon and Libya both have buildings that were constructed in the Italianate style. Visit the Beiteddine or House of Faith in Lebanon. The palace and surrounding gardens include many porticos, ornate facades and wrought iron railings. Likewise, the colonial Building in Green Square in Tripoli reflects the Italian occupation of Libya. Although simpler and less decorative, the facade of the Colonial Building is white stucco and the building includes many arches, a tower and wrought iron embellishments.