A Villa in the Norman style

"Of course, this is not a house to please a practical, common-sense man. it is not a rational house, in the same manner that the classical villa, full of logical, straight lines, is rational -- for there is here hardly a single continuous, unbroken line - every opening is arched, and all tendency is towards the pyramid or the curve. Hence, it is clear, that only those who expect to find in a country-house something that rises into the romantic and ideal, will prefer this villa." [Downing, 280.]