The adoption of the "walled-city" plan for the Exposition meant the
grouping of the more imposing architectural effects in the interior
courts, the outer facades simply forming parts of a practically
continuous wall about the whole. Inspired by Spanish architecture of the
Renaissance, the intention was to keep the wall spaces in general quite
bare, concentrating the decorative effects in rich "spots" at carefully
chosen intervals. Thus the outer facades of the central group of palaces
combine a simple general form with a series of richly ornamental
portals. The architect who as entrusted with the designing of the wall
and all the portals was W. B. Faville of Bliss and Faville.
Certain architectural and sculptural units are repeated throughout the
central group. Each building has a low central dome, seldom seen when
one is close to any of the main buildings, but adding greatly to the
decorative effect from a slight distance. These domes are of Byzantine
style, and are colored in harmonizing shades of green and pink. The
small repeated corner domes add another Eastern touch, and are
especially effective at night. The outer wall is edged all the way
around with a simple cornice and a few rows of dull red tiles,
distinctly Southern in feeling, and therefore harmonizing with both the
Spanish and the Italian Renaissance doorways.
The Winged Victory is the fine decorative figure that crowns the gables
of all the palaces of the walled-city. It is broadly modelled, massive
and yet refined, and from any viewpoint stands out in beautiful
silhouette against the sky. It is by Louis Ulrich.