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Piranesi had already done the theoretical groundwork for a pluralistic approach to styles back in the 18th century. Especially theatre sets and pavilion buildings in landscaped English gardens provided great architectural opportunities, thanks to their informal nature. However, since the early 19th century a wider spectrum had also become evident in buildings designed for urban contexts,
he stately Caffè Pedrocchi in Padua was constructed in 1816 by Giuseppe Jappelli, who on his travels had developed a broad familiarity with work elsewhere in Europe. Construction lasted too 1831, during which time sundry additions were made that illustrate the eclectic approach to the design. The main façade with a two-story colonnade of slender Corinthian columns between corner projections follows a standard Palladian pattern for villas and palaces. The novelty is the porches at street level in front of the end projections. These have the squat columns and heavy entablatures of Revolutionary Doric, while the lion figures flanking their steps go back to Egyptian models. Finally, in 1837, Jappelli built an extension at the back (Il Pedrocchino) in the Gothic Revival style. The numerous café rooms of the interior on two floors display the same catholicism of styles.
The photo shows the main façade, completed in 1831.
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