Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/525

 1869.] Descriptions. 427 or treble, and together with the doors, have either square or arched heads, ac- cording to the importance of their posi- tion. The roofs are Tuscan, projecting considerably beyond the face of the walls, and serving to protect them against the inclemency of the weather. The Portico, or Porte- Cocker, has a flat roof and a balustrade. The most prominent and striking characteristic, however, of an Italian Yilla, is the Campanile, so called from Campari a, a bell. These towers were at one time very generally adopted as a mark of nobility; but have now be- come an almost universal adjunct to an Italian Villa, tending to enliven the general appearance ; and affording an elevation, whence to view the surround- ing scenery. Sometimes on these towers are placed " Belvederes," or " Look- outs," for the purpose of affording a still more extended prospect ; and these serve as an ornamental feature in the design likewise, to beautify the land- scape. Belvederes are very common in Italy and France ; and some of them are very magnificent. The most cele- brated one is that built by Bramante in the Vatican. In addition to the foregoing leading characteristics, we may briefly enume- rate a few others, such as bay-windows, which are frequently made use of; heavy door and window dressings, having a tendencj' more to bold than to minute details in ornamentation ; and heavy ar- cades, verandahs, balconies, antae, pilas- ters, quoins, rustic work, and string- courses. All these are to be met with, according to the taste and fancy of the designer. The subject of our illustration is a design for a Suburban mansion, in almost pure Italian style. A very cursory ex- amination will show, that many of the characteristic features, which we have just been discussing, are exhibited in this Villa. We have the Porte-Cocher, or Portico, sixteen (16) feet by twenty (20) feet, resting upon Corinthian col- umns and antae, being of sufficiently ample dimensions to admit of carriages driving through. This Portico has a flat roof and a balustrade, forming an extensive balcony to the room imme- diately over the entrance vestibule. We have also the low Tuscan roof, with the heavj' projecting eaves, resting on brackets and cantalivers. The chim- neys, too, are prominent and orna- mental, serving to vary the outline. There are Balconies, as will be seen, to the windows on the side, together with a Verandah to the Drawing-room, with a balustrade, the roof of which forms an Ambulatory to the Chamber immediately over the Drawing-room, in the second story. The Campanile also is present, not, however, of the usual height, in villas of this style ; but its comparative low- ness is amply compensated for by its being surmounted with an elegant and light Belvedere, which adds grace and beauty to the picture. The whole design presents a regular and symmetrical appearance, broad, heavy, and spreading. If desirable, it might at any time be extended ; but, in its present state, we think it would ad- mirably answer as a Family Mansion ; and is capable of being made very com- plete and comfortable. Before proceeding with a description of the plan of the first story, we will give briefly a few of the principal dimensions. The front of the Villa is fifty-six (56) feet in length, with a depth in the main building of seventy-six (76) feet. The side portion, in which are the Kitchen and Servants' apartments, is forty-nine (49) feet long, by thirty-six (36) feet deep. The height of the first story is fifteen (15) feet, and of the second four- teen (14) feet, both in. the clear. The extreme height of the Tower up to the apex of the Belvedere is sixtj T (60) feet. We will now proceed to describe the plan, although it requires very little ex- planation, as it speaks for itself. Through the Portico we enter the Lobby, A,