Venezia Park District

Venezia Park was one of the two main residential subdivisions in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers development of the City of Venice. The houses in this residential area tend to be split level or two-story in height. They nearly all have irregular plans with patios, courtyards, or arcades. The houses are either hollow tile or frame with smooth or textured stucco. There are multiple roof lines on these buildings ranging from gable to hip. Flat parapet roofs were generally limited to small wings or garages in this area. All of the roofs have either barrel or pantile roofs, most of the roofs have little or no overhang with no rain gutters.

Residential structures are rarely regular in shape, having multiple facets in the form of one-story projections, courtyards, projecting porticos, porte-cocheres, and walls. This provides stimulating variety to the overall rhythm of the streetscape.

The major buildings were constructed of hollow clay tile, which were manufactured at a local factory. Most buildings were of wood frame construction, finished with smooth and rough cast stucco. Brick buildings are rare, although many structures rest on brick pier foundations. Most foundations are concrete block.

Buildings were designed with a variety of roof shapes, with few examples having a single roof type. Hip roofs often connect with a gabled structure, connected to a shed or flat projection. Red barrel clay tiles are almost universal for all sloped roof surfaces. Flat roofs were finished with a composition material.

The interiors of residential structures are no less elaborate than the exteriors. Beamed cathedral ceilings, ceramic tile floors, and ornamental details throughout demonstrate the quality and craftsmanship of Venice’s builders and architects. Many details such as inlaid terra cotta tile were imported from Tunisia and Spain. Such architectural features as arched doorways and attached columns are found in even the most modest of structures.

Few structures retain a full set of original windows, having been altered with jalousie or aluminum awning replacements. Arched windows and doors are an important architectural feature. Original windows were wood and steel in a variety of forms, including French doors, Palladian windows, sash and casement.

Ornamentation of the Mediterranean Revival examples include applied plaster or concrete relief medallions and cartouches, embedded glazed polychrome terra cotta tiles, balconies, and carved wooded brackets. Doorways are often elaborate with classical archivolt trim and keystones. Stucco is often applied in an ornamental pattern providing a rich texture.

Massive fireplaces are almost universal. Chimneys appear on the exterior elevations and are stuccoed. Many are embellished with inlaid terra cotta tiles or niches. Chimneys are often capped, some elaborately with pointed arches.