Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty | Know Your Architecture: Mediterranean

Mediterranean Revival is a style introduced in the United States in the late 19th century, variously incorporating references from Spanish Renaissance, Spanish Colonial, Beaux-Arts and Italian Renaissance architecture. The movement drew on the style of palaces and seaside villas and applied them to the rapidly expanding coastal resorts of California and Florida. In the 1920s and ’30s, Hollywood movies featured romantic Mediterranean sets, and celebrity magazines showed stars living in glamorous Mediterranean manors, creating the peak period for construction of this elegant style.

Its design cues are distinctive: symmetrical façades; stucco walls; red tile roofs; arched windows with grilles; and balconies made of wood or wrought iron. The signature tile roofs copy those of Spanish and Mexican missions and are usually made of clay, shaped like half of a tube to shed water easily. The air pocket under each tile helps keep the roof cool — perfect for Texas’ warm climate.

Famous examples include Vizcaya, built in Miami in the early 1900s, and Casa Casuarina, also in Miami, once the home of fashion designer Gianni Versace.

The townhome at 269 Casa Blanca Avenue in Fort Worth’s Monticello neighborhood offers luxury, privacy and Mediterranean style. It features an open floor plan, abundant natural light and a handsome wooden balcony overlooking an elegant courtyard. Perks include a large living room with a fireplace and a spacious master retreat. The home is close to the UNT Health Science Center, the West 7th area and Fort Worth’s museums.

It is represented by Grady Shropshire for $445,000.

To learn more about architecture styles, briggsfreeman.com/architecture is a unique source of information, including history and famous homes of each style. To see all the exceptional homes, ranches and land offered by Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, across North Texas and around the world, visit briggsfreeman.com.