Portmeirion, located in North Wales, Great Britain, is a distinctive village not just because of its remote position or secluded way of life, but due to its architecture innovation as well.
Born from an unrestrained wish to bring history and beauty back home, Portmeirion is the “result” of the creative mind (and generous financing) of architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, who created a new space from memory sketches of unforgettable places he had visited.
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis was so impressed by villages on the Italian Mediterranean shores, especially Portofino, that he decided to create his own Italian renaissance style village back in the North Wales, on the estuary of the River Dwyryd. When he was asked about the Italian architecture in his daring project, the architect replied in a warm voice: “How should I not have fallen for Portofino? Indeed its image remained with me as an almost perfect example of the man-made adornment and use of an exquisite site.”
The Portmeirion Village was built between 1925 and 1975 and is now run by a charitable trust with the aim to preserve its architecture, important sculptures and vast gardens. Contrary to all belief, this is not a residential village; instead, it runs as a tourist attraction, welcoming day guests (admission is £7.50) and hotel residents, using the village’s many cottages as special accommodation.
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion’s designer, denied repeated claims that the design was based on the town of Portofino, Italy. He stated only that he wanted to pay tribute to the atmosphere of the Mediterranean.
A stay in Portmeirion will cost you from 79GBP (per person, low season) to 299 GBP (high season, in Castell Penthouse Suite).
