Historic Architecture Research

Historic Architecture 

Research

Building #1: Villa Zoryada 

 

• There are lots of primary colors, red, yellow, and blue incorporated into the architecture. 
• Patterns are utilized, mainly through colorful tiles.
• Lots of designs are carved into the concrete, geometric shapes, lines, and arches.

            Villa Zoryada was built by Franklin W. Smith in 1833 as his winter home, it was the first building in Florida to be made out of concrete and it caught the attention of Henry Flagler who used the method of pouring cement and adding crushed coquina rocks for his other buildings, the Ponce de Leon Hotel and the Alcazar Hotel. After about 20 years the home was turned into a social club for the elite. In 1913 the property was sold to Abraham Mussallem, in the 1920s it became a gambling casino/speakeasy, and in the later 1920's the Mussallem family lived in the residence. After several years in 1933, the family realized the important history behind the building and opened it as the Villa Zoryada Museum we know today. 

Our History. (2024, April 4). Villa Zorayda Museum. https://villazorayda.com/our-history/

Building #2:  Lightner Museum 

• Lots of repetition is used throughout this building, repeating window shapes, archways etc. 
• Line is utilized, divided sections of the building, height and length of the building, it extended into the horizon line. 
• The foundation of the building is fairly plain, but the roof has very detailed carvings in a terracotta color that stands out in comparison to the gray of the concrete. 

           The Lightner Museum was built by Henry Flagler in 1888 as the Hotel Alcazar. It was built as an entertainment complex for the famous Ponce de Leon Hotel across the street, it had indoor swimming pools, a grande ballroom, tennis courts, etc. It closed its doors in 1930 due to an economic decline and remained closed until Otto C. Lightner purchased it in 1947 as a place to house his collection of artifacts. The museum has been open to the public since January of 1948, and in 1950 the city of Saint Augustine gained ownership after Otto passed away due to cancer. Many different collections and exhibits have been added since its opening. 

About Lightner Museum Weddings | Venue history. (2023, December 13). Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida. https://weddings.lightnermuseum.org/venue-history/

History. (2024, January 4). Lightner Museum. https://lightnermuseum.org/history/

Building #3: Casa Monica Hotel 

 

 

 

• Intricate metal balconies feels very lavish. 
• The building is white in comparison to the others around it which are gray (concrete) feels more expensive. 
• Embellishments at the tops of the buildings, has a castle feel. 
• Lots of line is utilized, which helps make repeating patterns. 

    The Casa Monica was built by Franklin W. Smith in 1888 but soon after he almost made the hotel go bankrupt. It was sold to Henry Flagler who was able to bring it back to success, he renamed it the Cordova Hotel, and eventually, he even connected Hotel Alcazar and the Cordova, which had a new name Alcazar Annex. In the 1930's due to the Great Depression, the hotel closed down, it sat abandoned for about 30 years until the St. Johns County Commission voted to use it as a courthouse. In 1997 Richard Kessler purchased the building from the county and in 1999 and reopened its doors as the Casa Monica Hotel. 

Casa Monica Resort & Spa. (n.d.). Historic Hotels Worldwide. https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/casa-monica-resort-spa/history.php

Sketches

Sketch #1 

Sketch #2 

Sketch #3