Italianate Architecture
This style has symmetrical front bay windows
and tall chimneys.
Italianate buildings tend to be characterized more by their
ornamentation than by the structure itself," explains Gerald Foster,
architect and author of American
Houses: A Field Guide to the Architecture of the Home.
Most
of these homes were constructed in the mid- to late-1800s and can be found
nationwide, primarily north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Although loosely modeled
after the villas of Italy, the style became so popular in the U.S., Foster
says, that it was sometimes referred to as American style.
Italianate
structures ranged from modest row houses to grand mansions. But what ties them
all together is elaborate ornamentation, primarily with respect to cornices,
windows, porches and doorways.
"After
a period of picturesque architecture, Italianate reverts back to a tighter
symmetrical floor plan of an earlier time," says Foster. "Basically,
it’s a simple box with a lot of ornamentation."
Rectangular. Italianates have a plain shape and are usually two or three
stories tall.
·
Sloping roofs. Italianate
houses are easily distinguished by their gently sloping roofs and deep
overhanging eaves, which are seemingly supported by a row of decorative
brackets, or corbels. Brick, stone or stucco is used to construct the exterior.
·
Tall, rounded windows. "The windows are always tall, slim and most often
rounded on top," notes Foster. They usually appear in sets of three,
evenly spaced from left to right, but also show up as doubled-up pairs.
First-floor windows are taller than those on upper levels. Shutters are seldom
found on these homes, replaced by thickly hooded, pedimented or framed windows.
·
Columned entryway. A single-story column-supported porch protects the double-door
entrance.
·
Square tower, or cupola. A centrally placed square cupola often just above the roofline.
"These cupolas top off the buildings nicely, and they have an Italian feel
to them," Foster notes.
Practically
Speaking: Hassles and Headaches
Foster
points to the style’s simple form and durable building materials as the basis
for these homes’ longevity. Masonry walls, built straight and true, can last
for generations. Brick and stone walls will always need periodic pointing to
repair cracked mortar joints. Check exterior masonry walls for cracking, which
can point to issues with the building’s foundation.
Italianate
structures also tend to have uncomplicated roof lines, reducing the likelihood
of leaks. Gently sloping roofs, however, are not ideal for homes in northern
climates, where snow is likely to pile up rather than tumble down. Homes in
these areas should have their roofs closely examined for structural integrity.
Wood,
used to construct the ornamental details so common on Italianate homes -- such
as corbels, window crowns and porch columns -- should be examined for moisture
or insect damage. Periodic painting should keep solid wood in fine condition.
Blocks
of well-maintained Italianate-style row houses can still be found throughout
New York City, especially in the borough of Brooklyn. These handsome
brownstones, with their low stoops and dramatic arched entryways, have long
been home to some of the most literary members of society.
"As
home styles began to get more diluted throughout the latter part of the 19th
century, well-educated homeowners tended to choose styles with more
authenticity," explains Foster. "It takes a certain level of
sophistication to understand and appreciate the qualities of an Italianate
home."