MANILA, Philippines - Who was the American resort architect whose Mediterranean style left an indelible stamp on South Florida, where it continues to inspire architects and developers?
He was born in Benicia, California, on Dec. 12, 1872, and as a child, he traveled around the world with his father, a lawyer and US minister to Guatemala.
Although he lacked formal university training, he served a three-year apprenticeship in the office of San Francisco architect Willis Jefferson Polk, and eventually became a partner. He eventually relocated to New York City, where he designed numerous country houses across Long Island and the region.
In 1907, he and William Massarene designed White Pine Camp, a retreat in the Adirondack Mountains, later used by US President Calvin Coolidge as his “White Summer House.”
His Mediterranean Revival designs won the attention and patronage of wealthy clients, who preferred to build their own individual ocean-front mansions. Constructed of stone, tile, and stucco, his buildings were better suited to Florida’s semi-tropical climate (and threat of hurricanes) than the wooden shingle-style resort architecture imported from the northwest.
His houses were generally one-room-deep to allow cross-ventilation, with kitchens located in wings to keep their heat away from living areas. Other characteristics also included loggias, colonnades, clusters of columns, supporting arches, French doors, casement windows, barrel tile roofs, hearths, grand stairways, and decorative ironwork. In West Palm Beach, he later put up his own company to manufacture tiles, cast stone trim and columns, wrought iron, and eventually furniture for his buildings.
Among the mansions he designed were the 37-room El Mirasole for investment banker Edward R. Stotesbury, which had a private zoo; La Bellucia built in 1920 for Dr. Wiley Lyon, and Villa Flora built in 1923 for Edward Shearson. La Guerida was built in Palm Beach in 1923 for Rodman Wanamaker, and was later purchased during the Great Depression by Joseph Kennedy. This would eventually become President John F. Kennedy’s “Winter White House” during his term.
His first major Florida commission was the Everglades Club, a Spanish Mission-style convalescent retreat built in 1918 that today remains a private club. In 1925, he embarked on his most ambitious project, the creation of a fabulous resort at Boca Raton. Unfortunately, this was at the end of the Florida land boom, and it ended in bankruptcy in a little more than a year. He died in 1933 of a heart attack in Palm Beach.
* * *
Last week’s question: Who is the Swedish celebrity chef who has brought his unique international style of cooking to the US, and served as guest chef for the first state dinner of the Obama presidency?
Answer: Marcus Samuelsson
Winner: Herbert S. Alincastre of Malolos, Bulacan
* * *
Text your answer to 0917-9498721 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen through a raffle of texts with the correct answer. The winner will receive P2,000 worth of SM gift certificates for use at Our Home, SM Department Store, or SM Supermarket. The winner can claim their prize at Our Home in SM Megamall. Call the store manager at 634-1950, 634-1943. Bring photocopies of two valid IDs and a clipping of the Design Quiz issue in which you appear as winner.