What is a serliana?
A serliana is a three-part wall or window opening in which the taller central opening is topped by a semicircular arch, while the two narrower side openings have flat heads. Columns or pilasters separate the three parts and carry the entablature over the side lights. In English it is better known as a Palladian window or Venetian window; serliana and Serlian window are the terms used by architectural historians.
Where the name comes from
The name refers to the Italian architect Sebastiano Serlio (1475-1554), who described and illustrated the motif in his architectural treatise, later collected as Tutte l’opere d’architettura et prospetiva. Serlio did not invent it: the form derives from the Roman triumphal arch and had already been used by Bramante. Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) made it famous, notably in the loggias of the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza. Through 18th-century Palladianism it became a staple of English country houses, such as Holkham Hall, and later of classical buildings everywhere.
How to recognise one
- Three openings side by side, symmetrical around a wider centre
- An arch over the centre only; the side lights are flat-topped, usually with an entablature resting on the columns or pilasters
- The arch springs from the level of that entablature, so the horizontal line of the side openings runs into the start of the arch
Three equal round-headed windows in a row are not a serliana, and neither is a semicircular window divided by two mullions (a Diocletian or thermal window).
Application
In houses the serliana is mostly found as a feature window in a front elevation, stairwell or gable, and in simplified form in Georgian and neoclassical villas and terraces. Tips for repair and replacement:
- Keep the proportions. The effect depends on the contrast between the tall centre and the low sides; chunky frames or double glazing with wide spacer bars quickly spoil it.
- Template the arch. The arched fanlight is bespoke; take a full-size template rather than relying on radius and width alone.
- Check sills and entablature. The horizontal parts over the side lights collect water, so rot and cracking usually start there.
- Listed building? Altering such a defining window normally needs consent from the heritage authority.
Related terms
- Pilaster
- Column
- Blind arch
- Window frame
- Diocletian window
- Listed building
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