DOCOMOMO/US FLORIDA is the Florida chapter affiliated with DOCOMOMO/US -- the United States working party for the documentation and conservation of building sites and neighborhoods of the modern movement.
DOCOMOMO/International is a non-governmental organization that works for the DOcumentation and COnservation of architecture and important sites related to our heritage, which were built during the MOdern MOvement. DOCOMOMO/International was founded in the Netherlands in 1988. Its principal objectives were issued in the 1990 Manifesto of Eindhoven.
DOCOMOMO/US FLORIDA was founded in early 2007 as a response to the need to preserve our recent heritage in the State of Florida.
We are a non-profit regional society promoting research, scholarship, and education concerning the Modern Movement, and the conservation of buildings, landscapes the built environment of the Modern Movement.
The society provides a forum for the interchange of ideas among architectural historians, architects, designers, preservationists, real estate development organizations, academics, students, and others interested in the Modern environment and its preservation.
DOCOMOMO/US FLORIDA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Enrique Madia, President
Jean-François Lejeune, Vice President
Martha Kohen, Secretary
Anthony Abbate, Treasurer
Roy Eugene Graham, FAIA
Luigi Seta
Richard Shieldhouse
Allan Shulman
Sandra Suarez
DOCOMOMO/US FLORIDA ADVISORY BOARD
Jan Hochstim
Gene Leedy
Alfred Browning Parker
Terence Riley
Donald Singer
HONORARY MEMBER
Hilario Candela
Beth Dunlop
John O'Connor
Demolition Threat for Ft. Lauderdale's Weidling House
The Weidling House at 716 Bryan Place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is perhaps the earliest example of a modern residential structure in Fort Lauderdale. Designed by J.M. Peterman and built in 1939, the influences of Art Deco and the Bauhaus are strikingly evident in this riverfront structure. The current owner of the house, Charles Jordan, is a general contractor who is intent on saving the house. He had begun work on the house when the real estate lending market collapsed. Neighborscomplained that the house, now on temporary blocks to lift it above the minimum flood elevation, is an eyesore. Further, the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Unsafe Structures Board has issued a demolition order, which has been temporarily blocked by the same city’s Historic Preservation Board. However; the demolition order has prevented Jordan from applying for additional financing needed for the project and has placed the house on the path to destruction. The matter will go before the City’s newly elected Commission on Tuesday, April 7th. Local preservationists and architects are urging those who appreciate the value of this local icon of modernism to send letters to the Ft. Lauderdale City Commission.
The house was designed by Fort Lauderdale’s first architect, J.M. Peterman, for C.P. Weidling, one of the city’s pioneer residents and co-founder of the city’s first law firm in 1911. It is recognized as the only example of “nautical deco” in the city and is considered to be a major “contributing structure” within the Sailboat Bend Historic District.
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Miami's Bacardi Building in Jeopardy
As the Miami Herald notes (see here), later this year Bacardi USA will vacate its Biscayne Boulevard headquarters and move to Coral Gables. The fate of the present complex remains uncertain. Without question, it deserves preservation and DOCOMOMO/US Florida will be active.
Among the finest examples of blending art with architecture is the home of Bacardi USA, Inc. in Miami, Florida...(for more, please click here.)
The Miami Historic and Preservation Board met on April 7, 2009, regarding a historic designation for this iconic group of buildings. The Board postponed a vote on its fate until May 5, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. (Read Herald item here.)
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Miami Marine Stadium Voted Landmark Status
Miami's Preservation Board voted unanimously to provide a historic designation to this landmark. This will protect this important building from demolition, although it does not guarantee its restoration.
The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium deserve hearty congratulations for their successful efforts. Read the Miami Herald article here.
More on the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium is available here.
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Manus House, Palm Beach Florida
The 48-year-old Manus house is the last remaining Alfred Browning Parker design standing in the extremely affluent seaside community. Its current owner, Peter Cohen, wants to tear down the structure and replace it with a British Colonial-style McMansion.
Palm Beach Town Council members cleared the way for owners of the last house standing on the island by modern architect Alfred Browning Parker to tear the house down, voting 3-to-2 to overturn two town board's actions to keep the house standing.
The Town's Architectural Review Commission failed to give Peter Cohen a fair review of his plans to build a British Colonial house at 144 Wells Road. rejected the design of Cohen's planned replacement for the Manus House, indicating the landmark structure could only be replaced by a landmark. This was subsequently overruled by the Town Council.
To view a thoughtful letter from the architect to Palm Beach Mayor Jack McDonald, click here.
To view a slide show of photographs of this spectacular house, courtesy of Jane Manus, please click here.
More information on Parker can be found by clicking here.
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Shelbourne Hotel (1940), Igor Polevitzky and Thomas Triplett Russell.
The 1968 Gulf-Life Tower in Jacksonville was designed by Welton Becket and Associates with local assistance From Kemp, Bunch & Jackson. When built, it was the talles precast building in the world and remains the tallest precast, post-tensined structure.
© 2009, DOCOMOMO/US FLORIDA. (Revised 30 June 2009.)