Karelia Martinez Carbonell
Martinez Carbonell is the president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables
After listening to the many suggestions and recommendations at the March 21 Charter Review Committee Meeting, it’s become apparent to me that one recommendation, the call for “all city projects to adhere to Mediterranean Revival architectural standards” as a way to preserve “the city’s aesthetic heritage”, is shortsighted, and sadly, in my opinion, misunderstood.
George Merrick, our city’s founder, thankfully did not adhere to one single architectural style.
On one hand, he envisioned a predominant style throughout his fledgling city, influenced by the residential buildings surrounding the Mediterranean. But on the other hand, Merrick created a variety of thematic “villages” highlighting distinct architectural styles. Today, Coral Gables boasts seven unique historically significant villages that include Italian, Chinese, Dutch South African, Pioneer, French City, French Country, and French Normandy. In fact, if not for the disastrous hurricane of 1926 and the real estate market collapse of the late 1920s, Merrick’s architectural assortment would have also provided for a Venetian Country Village, a Mexican Hacienda Village, a Spanish Mission Village, a Persian Village, an African Bazaar Village, a Tangier Village, and a Neapolitan Baroque Village. Merrick’s ambitious plan was to feature 1,000 thematically designed home styles of “most countries in the tropical belt around the world,” as reported in the 1929 Miami Herald. Clearly, at least architecturally speaking, Merrick was an avid internationalist who mandated a design diversity that in subsequent decades came to include Art Deco, Brutalist, Googie, Neo-Colonial, New Formalist and Post-Modern.
The above charter review call reminds me of the “Coral Gables Mediterranean Style Design Standards,” or “Mediterranean Bonus” as established by the Coral Gables Zoning Code. This misguided initiative was created in the 1980s. I believe it was a reactionary move to halt the “modern” architectural designs populating the city at the time. [Ironically, today these same designs are nationally heralded as meritorious architectural works] These “standards” helped stymie architectural creativity. Our founder’s flair was flatlined. The city’s authentic Mediterranean design has been diluted. Architect Jose Gelabert-Navia, who helped write the original city ordinance providing the zoning bonus for Mediterranean architecture, says it’s often been misused [Miami Herald, 2019]. Currently, our city’s Mediterranean Bonus “standards” are undergoing much needed reckoning. What started as an attempt to safeguard the city’s Mediterranean roots, has led to a Mediterranean faux pas. Maybe it’s time to revisit Merrick’s internationalist design philosophy.
While it is prudent and important to preserve a city’s cultural and architectural identity, one design style does not wholly define it. Mediterranean Revival is our city’s foundational heritage but its preservation should not mean homogeneity in architectural styles. George Merrick’s city must continue to embrace a full spectrum of architectural designs just as he planned it.
Coral Gables was never meant to be myopic in its architectural heritage. Not during Merrick’s time, and not now.
Mediterranean Revival: Archival Photo of the Fink Offices and Studio Building circa 1940s. Architect H. George Fink Photo: City of Coral Gables Historical Resources Department
Art Deco: 2601 De Soto Boulevard (1937) This historically designated home displays many of the characteristics of Deco/Moderne architecture. Architect William H. Merriam. Photo: Sherry Shu Zhang
Brutalist: 2801 Salzedo Street (the former public safety building designed in 1973 by Walter Klements) Photo: Robin Hill
Post-Modern: 550 Biltmore Way [1983] Architect: Thomas Spain, O.K. Houstoun Photo: Robert Burr
Googie: 1 Miracle Mile [1969] Architect: O.K. Houstoun Photo: KM Carbonell
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Themed streets offer fantasy architecture. Perhaps Disney-like, falling to bring historical narratives and context.
Great streets like Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence or Las Ramblas in Barcelona encapsulate centuries of history through their evolving architecture. They offer a tapestry of culture and heritage as history is embedded in their facades.
Karelia Martinez Carbonell is spot on!!
The debate over “Mediterranean Revival” architecture in Coral Gables comes down to two essential issues: 1. how to preserve our original 1920s buildings and 2. whether modern interpretations of our
signature ancestral architecture glorify or defile the genre. Let’s remember that George Merrick went so far as to identify some of his famous Villages as “Florida Pioneer,” “Dutch South African,” “Javanese,” and “Chinese.” Mediterranean? not even close. Instead we got a curated collection of international building styles beautifully re-imagined to suit out sub-tropical climate. Brava to Karelia
Carbonell for educating us on what makes Coral Gables not only beautiful but important.
How out of touch is this article? More and more boring white boxes popping-up and you’re concern is – heaven forfend – that we try to preserve of what’s left of the city’s Mediterranean landscape?
Dr Carbonell, thank you for another expert paper.
There is nothing worse than lack of vision.
A “style” of architecture does not mean stasis. Wright continually updated his original styles as surroundings and materials changed. It would be nice to see an advanced Med style that takes into account the changes that have occurred in the last 80 years.
On another note, too many of the larger projects receive Med credit when a few Med appurtenances are added to a square or rectangular box.
It is time for CG to create a new Med style that represents the past by advancing it rather than aping it.
Coral Gables sets apart as an elegant, sophisticated, classic preserved Mediterranean neighborhood.
Just as South Beach is known for its Art Deco district. If that same flow is not maintained, then it will little by little, step by step lose its distinction. I think every effort should be made to continue its
distinctive appearance. Architects have the tools to make the flow continue and the City management should impose it.
Some of the eyesores in the city are specifically the ones you include in some of the pictures in the article. Merrick absolutely had a vision and it was not a city cobbled together with varying architectural styles and strange aluminum looking flower sculptures.
Kudos to KM Carbonell…….quote
“ While it is prudent and important to preserve a city’s cultural and architectural identity, one design style does not wholly define it. Mediterranean Revival is our city’s foundational heritage but its preservation should not mean homogeneity in architectural styles. George Merrick’s city must continue to embrace a full spectrum of architectural designs just as he planned it.”
Agree! It’s just sad when virtually all new houses look like white cinderblocks or “ladrillos” with 90 degrees angles
Not Mediterrenean revival. Nothing was revived. This city was and has always been intended to be Mediterranean. The 14 original villages (7 were built) were supposed to be unique one-off things to entice buyers as the bubble was bursting. The city should be stricter when it comes to what it allows to be built. Just look at what is happening in front of the Biltmore Hotel, George Merrick’s crowning glory rising high above the surrounding area. Which is now littered with these awful “sugar cube” houses. It’s obscene.
ok with a broader vision but not ok with corruption to make it happen.