Spanish Colonial Revival architecture

The Spanish Colonial Revival Style is a United States architectural stylistic movement arising in the early 20th century based on the Spanish Colonial architecture of the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

The Panama-California Exposition of 1915 in San Diego, highlighting the work of architect Bertram Goodhue, is credited with giving the style national exposure. Embraced principally in California and Florida, the Spanish Colonial Revival movement enjoyed its greatest popularity between 1915 and 1931.

Development of style

Mediterranean Revival

The antecedents of the Spanish Colonial Revival Style can be traced to the Mediterranean Revival architectural style. For St. Augustine, Florida, three northeastern architects, New Yorkers John Carrère and Thomas Hastings of Carrère and Hastings and Bostonian Franklin W. Smith, designed grand, elaborately detailed hotels in the Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Revival styles in the 1880s. With the advent of the Ponce de León Hotel (Carrère and Hastings, 1882), the Alcazar Hotel (Carrère and Hastings, 1887) and the Casa Monica Hotel (later Hotel Cordova) (Franklin W. Smith, 1888) thousands of winter visitors to 'the Sunshine State' began to experience the charm and romance of Spanish influenced architecture. These three hotels were influenced not only by the centuries-old buildings remaining from the Spanish rule in St. Augustine but also by The Old City House, constructed in 1873 and still standing, an excellent example of early Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

Colonial Revival architecture

Colonial Revival (also Neocolonial, Georgian Revival or Neo-Georgian) architecture was and is a nationalistic design movement in the United States. Part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement embracing Georgian and Neoclassical styles, it seeks to revive elements of architectural style, garden design, and interior design of American colonial architecture. (There may have been more than one such movement over the decades, each with the goal of reviving Georgian/Neoclassical architecture.)

The Centennial Exhibition of 1876 reawakened Americans to their colonial past. This movement gained momentum in the 1890s and was accelerated by the early 20th century advent of the automobile, which allowed ordinary Americans to visit sites connected with their heritage more easily than was possible than when travelling by rail.

History

Successive waves of revivals of British colonial architecture have swept the United States since 1876. In the 19th century, Colonial Revival took a formal style. Public interest in the Colonial Revival style in the early 20th century helped popularize books and atmospheric photographs of Wallace Nutting showing scenes of New England. Historical attractions such as Colonial Williamsburg helped broaden exposure in the 1930s.

Revivalism (architecture)

Revivalism in architecture is the use of visual styles that consciously echo the style of a previous architectural era.

Modern-day revival styles can be summarized within New Classical Architecture, and sometimes under the umbrella term traditional architecture.

Western Architecture

  • Gründerzeit – German historicist architecture of the 2nd half of the 19th century, distinctive style mélange; later variations included, e.g., "Heimatstil"
  • Russian Revival architecture – generic term for a number of different movements within Russian architecture that arose in second quarter of the 19th century.
  • Historicism or Historism – mixed revivals that can include several older styles, combined with new elements
  • Neo-Historism – revival of historicist architecture including several revival styles; emerged from Postmodern architecture in the late 1990s
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    Latest News for: spanish colonial revival architecture

    The Best Wellness Destinations in the U.S.

    New York Observer 14 Jan 2025
    The consistent Spanish Colonial Revival architecture creates a sea of red-tile clay roofs that contrast with the Pacific Ocean, and despite being one of the most affluent and coveted towns in the ...

    Stunning mansion from ‘Hacks’ is among the Hollywood landmarks destroyed by the LA wildfires

    New York Post 10 Jan 2025
    One of the most notable losses is the famed 1915 Spanish Colonial Revival mansion in Altadena, prominently featured in the award-winning Max comedy series “Hacks.” ... 9 ... Palm St ... The architecture was that kind of pink Spanish Colonial Revival.

    Would West Palm 'historic designation' alter plans for Himmel Theater renovation?

    The Palm Beach Post 30 Apr 2024
    But with the building fenced off and renovation work beginning on the structure's interior, fears have risen that the Himmel's importance as a representative of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture could be lost.

    Which Las Vegas buildings have national historic status?

    Las Vegas Review-Journal 29 Feb 2024
    The building was recognized by the national registry for being a “substantial” example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture in Las Vegas, which was popular during the decade.

    Which Las Vegas buildings are national historic places?

    Las Vegas Review-Journal 29 Feb 2024
    The building was recognized by the national registry for being a “substantial” example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture in Las Vegas, which was popular during the decade.

    LOS ANGELES UNION STATION CELEBRATES 85 YEARS OF CONNECTING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT THROUGH ...

    Longview News-Journal 13 Feb 2024
    The collaboration will largely be inspired by the innovative blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco stylings involved in the Station's unique architecture design.

    The Most Picturesque small Town Skylines in America

    The Signal 03 Feb 2024
    ... which glow with a famous pink light at sunset known as the “Pink Moment.” The skyline is characterized by Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, giving the town a distinctive and elegant aesthetic.

    Ryan Kane, CEO of STB Entertainment, Lists $18M Luxury Sanctuary in Sarasota, FL

    Hastings Tribune 26 Jan 2024
    SARASOTA, Fla. - January 26, 2024 - ( Newswire.com ) ... Renowned for its unique Mediterranean revival and Spanish Colonial architecture, the neighborhood has been a magnet for high-profile residents ... Contact Information.. Kelly Halliway ... (800) 486-1794 ... .

    36 Hours in Santa Barbara

    Toronto Sun 30 Dec 2023
    The Hotel Californian features beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and a modern Moorish vibe with trickling fountains in its courtyard and plazas ... The Spanish restaurant was awarded ...

    Fall Back: Arts Calendar November 2-8

    LA Weekly 01 Nov 2023
    Thursday, November 2. Cristopher Cichocki. Rising Inversion at Laguna Art Museum ... DaEun Jung ... 2245 E ... This presentation debuts new paintings alongside site-specific responses to the architecture of the gallery’s 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival building ... .

    A headstone decorates lawn of an Oregon State Fairgrounds building. Why is that?

    Statesman Journal 18 Oct 2023
    This is part of a weekly series answering "Why is that?" questions about Salem and the Mid-Valley. The question ... But first, a little history. The background ... Its Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture was unique to Oregon and rare in America.

    Restoration starts on historic Killefer School for Chapman University’s quantum studies

    Orange County Register 09 Oct 2023
    By Jessica Benda. Contributing Writer ... Lemon St. in Orange. (Register file photo) ... of ... The somewhat dilapidated structure shows its age, but it still retains significant character-defining features of its original Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

    LOS ANGELES UNION STATION TRAIN FESTIVAL 2023: A CELEBRATION OF PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE TO ...

    Longview News-Journal 01 Aug 2023
    The Station was designed with an innovative blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco architecture now commonly referred to as Mission Moderne.

    Welcome to the Hotel Californian, Where Wellness Meets Indulgence

    New York Observer 14 Jul 2023
    Welcome to the Hotel Californian. Hotel Californian ... The Hotel Californian ... The architecture is Spanish Colonial Revival meets Moroccan, and everything from the snake lighting fixtures to the furniture was custom-designed for the hotel ... Blackbird ... .

    Reeling in the Years

    Eugine Weekly 13 Jul 2023
    An unlikely example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style, with its white stucco walls, vaulted ceilings, cathedral windows and inner courtyard, the building looks like a transplant from the NorCal ...

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