Saturday, October 24, 2009

34. The Italianate - # 1




The Italianate has been an important and common building in Ontario. Since there are two rather distinct shapes, I have chosen to divide them into Italianate # 1 and Italianate # 2. Although they share many of the same decorative touches, there are also some distinct differences.

Italianate # 1 tends to resemble a cube, frequently with a cupola balanced on the top (which reminds me of a wedding cake!)

What to look for (clues)
  • The building is quite large and immensely solid with its square facade.
  • Very symmetrical.
  • Often has a shallow, hip roof (4-sided) with a flat spot in the center that sports a cupola or belvedere.
  • Large eaves are supported by heavy brackets frequently seen in pairs.
  • The second story windows can be very ornate.
  • The facade commonly has large bay windows extending outward on both sides of the entryway.
  • When properly painted in a variety of colours the effect is quite dramatic.
Where to find it

G
enerally the Italianate # 1 appears in an urban setting in an older and wealthier section of a large town or city. The building shown here is now a museum and contains much of its original house furniture. It is well worth visiting it in Baden, Ontario.

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