Everything to Know About Mediterranean Architecture

If you’re a fan of film noir, you’re likely familiar with the grand staircases, archways, and wrought-iron features of a Mediterranean home. This was a common home style in California and Florida during the roaring 1920s, when it was a mainstay of most Hollywood movies. They were meant to depict grandeur, opulence, and evoke the resorts of coastal Europe, with all the European lighting and details to match.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about the history of Mediterranean houses, their architectural features, and the different styles to look out for.  

History of the Mediterranean Home

Mediterranean-style homes initially drew on architectural inspiration from countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Over time, influence from other countries, such as Morocco, Greece, and Turkey, added to the style (which some might call Neo-Mediterranean). The look is meant to emulate the feeling of being at a grand hotel in Capri, Italy or a similar resort town, with all the features that come with it: big terraces, bedroom balconies, and enormous windows so you can get the best view of the Sea.

These homes rose in popularity from 1918 to 1940, dotting the streets of warm-weather states like California and Florida, where the climate was similar to countries like Italy and Spain. This was deliberate, as the Mediterranean home’s building materials help to keep the heat out in the daytime and hold it inside at night.

During the 1920s, Americans longed for the opulence of extravagant estates and hotels of Europe’s coast, and the Mediterranean home was one way to access that feeling. Notable architects who pushed the Mediterranean home into prominence include Addison Mizner, Bertram Goodhue, Sumner Spaulding, and Paul Williams.

Defining Features of the Mediterranean Architecture

1. Earth Tones

The colors of Mediterranean homes are meant to mimic the natural landscape that surrounds them, and usually appear in neutral shades, like tan, brown, eggshell, or plain white. The type of siding on a Mediterranean is traditionally made from stucco, which is durable, low-maintenance, and fire-resistant.

2. Stucco Siding

That stucco siding that helps define the exterior appearance of Mediterranean architecture isn’t just for looks, either. Stucco is highly insulative, which helps keep the interior of homes in hotter regions cooler during the day and warmer at night when the temperature dips.

3. Red-Tiled Roof

These homes often feature red, clay or terracotta roof tiles in a U-shape which let water drain off easily and reduce the amount of heat that gets into the home. In addition, they have a long lifespan, often lasting for several decades. 

4. Arches

Over the large windows and doors in a Mediterranean home you’ll find arches for added character and more visibility of the landscape outside. Sometimes, these archways will be decorated and framed by patterned tiles. Rounded edges also appear more natural than perfect right angles, so the archways help Mediterranean homes blend in a bit more with the surrounding nature.

5. Wrought Iron

The details of the house, such as the balcony railing, will most likely be made of strong, elegant wrought iron. Wrought iron might look industrial in some settings, but paired with the muted colors of a terracotta roof and stucco siding, it adds a touch of elegance and intrigue to the otherwise rustic appearance.

6. Tile Flooring

Flooring in this style of home is usually made of tiles (sometimes patterned) or natural stone, to help keep feet cool during summer heat waves. Ornate tile provides a similar blend of natural beauty and man-made opulence as the wrought iron does. The tile itself is natural, while the popular ornate designs make the space feel elevated while still maintaining its roots in nature.

7. Generous Outdoor Space

A Mediterranean home is designed to help you access and enjoy the outdoors, with sizable patios, balconies, and backyards, often with large doors that provide easy access to the space. Many will also have a pool, since these homes are popular in hot weather states.

Types of Mediterranean Style Homes

There are three distinct kinds of Mediterranean home. Here’s what you need to know about each.

1. Italian Renaissance

These homes look to 16th century Italy—the Renaissance period—for inspiration. As this was the era when the bel paese was flourishing, these homes are imposing and ornate, and often have columns in addition to the signature Mediterranean-style archways. This particular style mixes the showy nature of neoclassical interior design with a more nature-centered focus.

2. Spanish Revival 

Borrowing from Spanish Colonial, Spanish Mission, and Mexican Churrigueresque architecture, the Spanish Revival Mediterranean home is simpler than the Italian Renaissance style, with clean lines and low-pitched roofs that don’t scream opulence. The archways will also be unadorned. 

3. Modern Mediterranean

The modern Mediterranean home borrows ideas from both the Italian Renaissance and the Spanish Revival, but makes them more contemporary with large, open floor plans, white cabinetry, and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.

Pros and Cons of Mediterranean Architecture

Much like other home styles, Mediterranean architecture is ideal for some but may not be appealing to others. Below are some pros and cons you should consider before committing to this type of home.

Pros

The many upsides of Mediterranean architecture are the reasons this style has remained popular in multiple parts of the world.

• Connection to nature. Mediterranean architecture focuses on outdoor living spaces and a connection to nature from the interior through large windows and doors. If you’re a fan of the fresh air, you might love this style home.

• More sustainable. The building materials for this style—including clay roofing, clay or ceramic floors, and stucco siding—are sustainable and recyclable. These homes are naturally a bit more eco-friendly than stick-built homes with asphalt roofing.

• Highly insulative. Stucco and clay are outstanding insulators, which mean Mediterranean homes will maintain comfortable indoor temperatures more easily. This is especially good news if you live in a hot climate where this style is prevalent.

• Appealing. This style of architecture is undeniably beautiful, whether you prefer the simple appeal of a Spanish Revival design or the opulence of an Italian Renaissance aesthetic.

Cons

There are some downsides to consider before hiring a local architect to design a Mediterranean-inspired home, though.

• Not ideal for cold climates. The Mediterranean style was designed to stay cool in hotter climates. The tall ceilings and wide-open floor plans tend to make keeping the home warm in colder areas difficult and expensive.

• You’re locked into a specific style. Since the architecture of Mediterranean homes is an integrated component of the overall style, you’ll have difficulty swapping to another home style. That is, unless you’re into Italianate-style homes or Palm Springs architecture—these are both somewhat similar and could be options.

• Maintenance can be expensive. The clay roofing and stucco siding on these homes can last for 50+ years, but you’ll need to repair minor damage and cracks regularly, which can get expensive.

Notable Examples of Mediterranean Architecture

You may have seen these buildings in your own city, in magazines, or on vacation.

Hearst Castle

Designed by Julia Morgan for the newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA features a luxurious marble balcony with a loggia and a pool surrounded by columns (not to mention 42 bedrooms!).

El Mirasol

Designed by one of the most prominent architects of Mediterranean homes, Addison Mizner, El Mirasol was located in Palm Beach, FL, and featured large arched windows and terraces. Unfortunately, it was demolished in 1959.

Villa Vizcaya

Now the home of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, this Miami, FL-based, waterfront estate is the former home of businessman James Deering. It has marble floors, columns, and imported Fresco ceilings from the Tuscany region of Italy and France.

How to Incorporate Mediterranean Style Into Your Home

If you’re a fan of Mediterranean architecture and want to bring the style into your home, there are a few things you can do to capture the spirit of the style with small renovations and decor.

Use Decor to Your Advantage

One of the easiest ways to make your interior look a bit more Mediterranean is to focus on the decor. Try to incorporate some of the following throughout your home:

• Use natural materials like glass, concrete, and clay

• Incorporate floor-to-ceiling sunshades

• Bring in statement pieces that add intrigue and a touch of opulence, like ornate throw pillows

• Use furniture in your open floor plan to focus on bringing family together

• Use plants as interior decor to embrace the connection with nature 

• Bring in natural materials, like wicker, rattan, and linen

Focus on Earth Tones With Pops of Color

Another great way to embrace the Mediterranean style is to focus on color. For walls, choose earth tones like clay, light brown, or white.

To lean into the ostentatious nature of the Italian Renaissance style, you can accent those earth tones with pops of color, either in decor or small sections of tiling, like backsplashes. Combine those bright, colorful accents with ornate patterns for a traditional Mediterranean look.

Incorporate Natural Materials

Mediterranean architecture focuses on a connection with nature, both in the decor and the layout of the home, allowing residents to get fresh air and enjoy outdoor views whether they’re inside or outside.

A good way to embody this connection to nature is to focus on natural materials. Stone, clay, and stucco are classic materials that appear in these homes, and you can modernize a bit by incorporating unfinished wood and concrete into the space.

Consider Renovations

Finally, you can think about renovations that will align your design with Mediterranean architecture. The following remodel options can go a long way in achieving the look you’re going for:

• Replace flooring with the clay or ceramic tiling that help define this style

• Upgrade your kitchen to incorporate a bright, colorful, and ornate backsplash

• Replace small windows with large ones that provide ventilation an unhindered views of the outdoors

• Create an outdoor living space for entertaining

• Replace squared-off doors with arches or arched doors

• Create balconies from your upstairs bedrooms that feature wrought iron railings

• Upgrade your staircase with a more ornate curved staircase