Neighborhood Info 

South Florida Old Spanish homes represent a time of suspension between maturity and timelessness and commingling the spiritual with the commercial. The famed developers of the area had gone this direction as early as 1916. And since the beginning of the century, the sunny states – California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Florida had debated publicly about the necessity of developing an architecture different from northern states which had already begun in the years 1870 -1880 with the renaissance of colonial style and the appearance of the shingle house.

Until the end of the 20s, architecture magazines were filled with articles on the art of living, many of which gave justification to the modern and decorous features of Spanish Style and elaborated on its multiple advantages. For example, the Spanish Renaissance style sanctioned the grouping of vertical openings recommended for both the exterior and interior of shops.

The advocates of different architecture gushed on about the charm of the desert, the lushness of tropical foliage, the unique character of the Everglades, the presence of native Spanish – Americans… The pueblos, ancient missions, haciendas, and the adobe technique became authenticated sources of the new architecture to the same degree as Christian and Moorish Mediterranean styles.

Most of the new houses were constructed of coral rock, poured concrete blocks or brick with all exterior masonry surfaces stuccoed, except those of coral rock or brick. Pitched roofs were of tile. Moreover, all plans were approved by the supervising architect before a building permit was approved. Phineas Paist was the first to occupy this important position when the city of Coral Gables was incorporated in April 1925.

Mediterranean Revival architecture was the “style of choice” for the first major boom period in Miami Beach. It’s connotation of Mediterranean resort architecture, combining expressions of Italian, Moorish, North African and Southern Spanish themes, was found to be an appropriate and commercially appealing image for the new Floridian seaside resort.

During the mid 1910s through the early 1930s the style was applied to hotels, apartment buildings, commercial structures, and even modest residences. Its architectural vocabulary was characterized by stucco walls, low pitched terra cotta and Cuban tile roofs, arches, scrolled or capped parapet walls and articulated door surrounds, sometimes utilizing Spanish Baroque decorative motifs and Classical elements. Feature detailing was occasionally executed in keystone.

Homes were expressions of good taste and fancy of its owner. Broad, ample lines, with cool inviting porches extended a real welcome to neighbor or guest. With loggias providing a delightful cool open-air living room, shelter from sun, or patio insuring an attractive semi-tropical retreat where one may, midst surroundings of tropical verdancy enjoy all of the beauty of outdoor life.