Mediterranean Architecture: Where the union of simplicity and coziness overflows with beauty and identity!!

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Hello, dear readers! I'm back!

I spent a few months with the blog inactive, but for good reasons. I moved to New York two months ago and was quite busy with the move, apartment furnishings, etc., plus I didn’t have a computer during that time. But now, with a new one, I'm finally here ready to update you with our content again.

So, let's get to the point! I finally transcribed the draft of this article that was ready a while ago to publish content about an architectural style that is highly appreciated around the world. A style that not only enchants me but also many people with different tastes and preferences, even those who prefer more contemporary styles stemming from Modernism or what many traditional style enthusiasts call "ego architecture," meaning styles that aim to flaunt grand dimensions, expensive trends, minimalism, and impressive features, not necessarily beautiful (and almost always, they are not). Sorry, fancy people!

Isn’t it interesting how a style immediately captures our attention, becoming a favorite without the need for deep knowledge of the subject? That’s exactly what beauty does to us! Beauty is obvious, it doesn’t go unnoticed. Even simple, modest, and limited, an environment or scene can be beautiful, cozy, inviting, and satisfy hundreds of people all the time in the famous tourist cities of Greece, for example. And it is in this context that Mediterranean architecture thrives!

When speaking of the style, the first image that comes to mind is often that of the white buildings in Greece, with arched porticos, domes and blue accents on windows, doors, furniture, floors, staircases, all with views of the sea, right? And here lies the perfect example of IDENTITY. We are immediately mentally directed to a specific place during a description when it has a successful identity.

However, Mediterranean architecture is not limited to Greek territories. It also extends to other areas touched by the Mediterranean Sea, which gives its name to the style.

The Mediterranean washes the shores of countries in Southern Europe (Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt), the Eastern Mediterranean region (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the Gaza Strip), as well as isolated island nations like Greece, Malta, and Cyprus. In all of these places, we can glimpse Mediterranean style, each with its own cultural nuances, such as the use of more or less white, earthy tones, or pops of color, but all are easily recognized as Mediterranean.

Now, let’s talk about the beautiful simplicity of the style. “Simple, are you sure?” Yes. It is far from being an elaborate architectural style, which doesn’t stop it from being beautiful. In fact, this is the very essence of its originality.

Vernacular architecture defines this style, as buildings are generally constructed with locally available materials, which are not many in variety. Therefore, it doesn’t feature elaborate details, high-tech materials, or luxurious finishes. The basic elements of the style include masonry buildings, stucco finishes, arched frames, and wooden structures, with roofs, floors, and walkways made from ceramics, bricks, mosaics, and local stones.

The furniture is also aesthetically simple, made of wood with straight cuts and/or soft curves, without ornate details. Natural fibers are also often used in the details of these pieces, or even in their full construction, such as wicker, indian straw, and sisal. Inside and outside, you’ll see vibrant color accents, cast iron, and plants! Lots of plants! Lavender, cypress, and rosemary are some popular aromatic plants from these regions, creating great harmony with the local landscape, which is filled with aromas and mysticism, setting the stage for contemplation, relaxation, and plenty of coziness!

And here we have a ready-made identity. What an identity it is! Identity and harmony are true luxury! The predominant white or earthy beige tones of the buildings provide a clean, bright view, while the color accents referring to the sea, the sun, and coastal traditions invite us to enjoy these places and inspire us to incorporate some of these details into our own homes as well.

Now, let’s look at some examples of this style applied in different regions:

(As Belezas dos Casarões Antigos/Facebook)

(Beautiful Pictures/Facebook)

The two pictures above depict landscapes in Santorini, Greece. As previously described, we can observe the presence of elements such as ceramic items, color accents always referring to the nature of the place, like the blue of the Mediterranean and the yellow of the sunny climate, ceramic pieces, plants from the local flora, arched doors and porticos, and the predominance of white in the color palette.

(Beautiful Pictures/Facebook)

(meurodape.com)

In the pictures above, we can see earthy tones like beige and terracotta as the main colors of the buildings instead of white, which, as we saw earlier, is also a tradition. We can observe a bit more delicacy and sophistication in the environment, common in italian settings, for example, but always following the pattern of rusticity and harmony typical of the style through the materials used, such as wood in straight lines, ceramics, natural fibers, and curved lines in the porticos.

(meurodape.com)

Here, we can see the presence of cast iron adornments as the structure of the traditional guardrails on the balconies at the top of the buildings, offering a view of the beautiful landscapes and the sea, the light beige is the predominant color, with brown on the frames, a harmonious composition that, combined with the blue sky, immediately tells us this is a place bathed by the Mediterranean!

Well, that's all for now. I'm sure the Mediterranean style charms everyone and definitely offers something you’d like to apply in your home. And when you take that wonderful trip through Mediterranean countries, you'll be able to find amazing references in person, as well as capture magnificent photographic records!

Enjoy, and see you in the next article!