Mediterranean "Style" Architecture
Hill Country Mediterranean
Very few brand new residences are built
along the north Mediterranean coastline. This land and culture
is ancient and has been inhabited for thousands of years.
Additions and remodels are far more common. Today, a modern,
contemporary Mediterranean custom residence is likely to be
an addition or remodel of an existing structure that may have
been built 500 years ago.
 To
integrate the illusion of age into your design, why not build
a portion of your new residence to look as if it is ancient?
A masonry wall, floor or fireplace could be built using Old
World methods to make it appear 500 years old. Custom made
wood windows and wrought iron work can be made to appear old.
Antique, salvaged wood beams and mortise and tenon wood trusses
can be left exposed to further enhance the impression that
what you have done is restored, added onto and modernized
a 500 year old cottage. To be a traditional Mediterranean
residence, and not a Mediterranean 'style' residence, it is
crucial it not appear to have been designed by one architect
and built by one builder in 1999! Rather, it is a building
evolution from an ancient stone cottage to a modern, traditional
Mediterranean residence, passed down and added onto through
the generations, as would be likely in the Mediterranean region.
All of the vernacular building materials
of the Mediterranean region are readily available in the Texas
Hill Country. Their design characteristics for capturing the
view, building on sloping sites and creating outdoor living
areas that shade the interior are equally appropriate to our
area and climate. The final element of age may be incorporated
if you are so inclined. If executed with skill and sensitivity
by your architect, your new custom residence, addition or
remodel will look as appropriate and organic in the Texas
Hill Country as it would in Monte
Carlo! 
mediterranean
"style" 
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