French Normandy Village (1925-27), view03, 3622 LeJeune Rd, Coral Gables, FL, USA
Miami est. 1896, pop. 2.6MM • Coral Gables one of 1st planned communities in US
• designed by Miami Architects John Skinner (1893-1972) and Coulton Skinner (1891-1963) • purchased by U. of Miami, 1935, became fraternity row • used as army barracks, WWI • now privately owned
• city of Coral Gables (1925) created by Duxbury, MA transplant George E. Merrick (1886–1942) on family's 3K acre plantation • Merrick's vision of a "Riviera of the Tropics" influenced by City Beautiful Movement • $100MM one of the 1st planned communities in US
• unifying theme was "castles in Spain made real," expressed in "Mediterranean Revival" architecture, a term said to have been coined by Merrick cousin, architect H. George Fink (1891-1975) • the French/Italian inspired architecture was, “a combination of what seemed best in each, with an added touch of gaiety to suit
the Florida mood.” -George Merrick
• Merrick's team: architects, landscape planner, artistic advisor, real estate officer, engineers • Supervisor of Color Phineas Paist (1873-1937) became supervising architect, responsible for ensuring aethetic consistency through codes, established Board of Architects Review Panel that still functions • Paist bio • Phineas Paist & the Architecture of Coral Gables (pdf)
• opened with strong sales, Merrick invested profits in expansion, founded U. of Miami • for unknown reasons, Merrick decided to diverge from consistent Mediterranean aesthetic at peak of land boom in 1925 • sold former OH governor Meyers Y. Cooper (1873-1958) hundreds of acres for express purpose of building houses/villages in traditional designs of other states, nations • goal was authenticity, not imitation, each of 14 planned villages to be designed by architect familiar with chosen style
• "Seven Miami architects and five New York architects are uniting in working out the details of the great planning of house construction. Thirteen styles are being used, drawn from various regions and nations which harmonize with the Mediterranean style now in use." -Meyers Y. Cooper • before 1926 Great Miami Hurricane & land bust ended construction, 7 villages completed: Dutch South African, Chinese, French Normandy, Florida Pioneer/Colonial, French Country, French City, Italian • fewer than 80 of the 1000 planned residences built
• Florida Land Bust broke Merrick, removed from Coral Gables commission, moved to Matacumbe Key, to run wife's resort • returned to Gables to be county postmaster 2 yrs. before death
1945 photo • Villages of Coral Gables -The Devoted Classicist • Remnants of a Dream in Coral Gables -Global Site Plans • George Merrick Villages -Bittrex
French Normandy Village (1925-27), view03, 3622 LeJeune Rd, Coral Gables, FL, USA
Miami est. 1896, pop. 2.6MM • Coral Gables one of 1st planned communities in US
• designed by Miami Architects John Skinner (1893-1972) and Coulton Skinner (1891-1963) • purchased by U. of Miami, 1935, became fraternity row • used as army barracks, WWI • now privately owned
• city of Coral Gables (1925) created by Duxbury, MA transplant George E. Merrick (1886–1942) on family's 3K acre plantation • Merrick's vision of a "Riviera of the Tropics" influenced by City Beautiful Movement • $100MM one of the 1st planned communities in US
• unifying theme was "castles in Spain made real," expressed in "Mediterranean Revival" architecture, a term said to have been coined by Merrick cousin, architect H. George Fink (1891-1975) • the French/Italian inspired architecture was, “a combination of what seemed best in each, with an added touch of gaiety to suit
the Florida mood.” -George Merrick
• Merrick's team: architects, landscape planner, artistic advisor, real estate officer, engineers • Supervisor of Color Phineas Paist (1873-1937) became supervising architect, responsible for ensuring aethetic consistency through codes, established Board of Architects Review Panel that still functions • Paist bio • Phineas Paist & the Architecture of Coral Gables (pdf)
• opened with strong sales, Merrick invested profits in expansion, founded U. of Miami • for unknown reasons, Merrick decided to diverge from consistent Mediterranean aesthetic at peak of land boom in 1925 • sold former OH governor Meyers Y. Cooper (1873-1958) hundreds of acres for express purpose of building houses/villages in traditional designs of other states, nations • goal was authenticity, not imitation, each of 14 planned villages to be designed by architect familiar with chosen style
• "Seven Miami architects and five New York architects are uniting in working out the details of the great planning of house construction. Thirteen styles are being used, drawn from various regions and nations which harmonize with the Mediterranean style now in use." -Meyers Y. Cooper • before 1926 Great Miami Hurricane & land bust ended construction, 7 villages completed: Dutch South African, Chinese, French Normandy, Florida Pioneer/Colonial, French Country, French City, Italian • fewer than 80 of the 1000 planned residences built
• Florida Land Bust broke Merrick, removed from Coral Gables commission, moved to Matacumbe Key, to run wife's resort • returned to Gables to be county postmaster 2 yrs. before death
1945 photo • Villages of Coral Gables -The Devoted Classicist • Remnants of a Dream in Coral Gables -Global Site Plans • George Merrick Villages -Bittrex