New and Meaningful Beginnings in Historic Florida The contrasting blend of Florida Cracker homes and European influenced estates -- lavish and, in many instances, whimsical in detail, ornamentation, and landscape treatments representing distinctly Floridian architecture -- was overshadowed by an uncontrolled building boom of the 50's, 60's, and 70's, characterized by cinder block strip shopping centers. The architectural style of these decades of fast-paced, but non-descript, development overpowered the historical focal points and natural influences cherished by so many, until concerned individuals focused attention on preserving the Sunshine State's historic sites, adapting what was with what could be. Edward D. Stone, Jr., FASLA, has been a leader in that effort -- a vocal advocate of resurrecting the "Old Florida" which drew him to the state some forty years ago: "It was the conch house casualness with magnificent coconut palms swaying above, the ocean beyond, the Intracoastal between, all in close proximity to formal gardens and glorious architectural masterpieces that made Florida an appealing environment for me and millions of others. I could not let that go," said Stone. While more recent development also has its role in history, individuals like Ed Stone are dedicated to preserving the treasures of Florida's early pioneers. "The state's history," according to Stone, "was desperately in need of revisiting, rejuvenating and, in some cases, re-creating in ways never dreamed possible." Stone's firm, EDSA, has acted on that desire and that philosophy, offering its talents to municipalities, historic trusts, redevelopment agencies, and hoteliers in search of new and meaningful beginnings. Accordingly, EDSA has been commissioned for dozens of diverse historic preservation and urban redevelopment projects, many of which provide historical references indigenous to their surroundings and exemplify Elsa?EUR??,,????'???s commitment to the important work of historic preservation. The commonality in these projects is that they are not sites appreciated by passive visitation, but functional facilities, which the public now experiences firsthand through active use. Preservation of these facilities requires consulting professionals (who share Elsa?EUR??,,????'???s founder's love for Florida) to utilize their talents as "curators" of the young history at hand. For instance, EDSA principal Doug Coolman, ASLA, who has led many of the firm's restoration and redevelopment projects, surmises: "The challenge of the modern preservationist differs greatly from the job of the original architects. Today's projects must be cognizant of new environmental, access, and security issues that did not exist at the turn of the century." Coolman uses the illustration of Phineas Paist who, when designing the Coral Gables' Venetian Pool in 1926, was hardly concerned with insurance issues. Frederic Clay Bartlett, of the famed Bonnet House, needed no permits to remove mangroves from -- or install a dock on -- his Intracoastal shores. "It was hardly a mandate that Addison Mizner blend handicapped access ramps with his Mediterranean motif," comments Coolman. "Above all, today's preservationists must be ready to adapt their projects as necessary to uses that attract the funding to sustain their continued existence." The Bonnet House Bonnet House was built in 1918, as the winter retreat of Frederic C. Bartlett and his wife Evelyn Fortune Barlett. In 1983, the house and its 36 acres valued at $40 million were deeded to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, which retained EDSA as its Landscape Architect. In this capacity, over a period of years, EDSA has worked with volunteers, committees, and fundraisers to make Bonnet House a remarkable blend of art, landscape, and nature -- and the focus of national recognition. A long range planning committee is designated annually by the Bonnet House Board of Directors under the direction of EDSA. In addition to targeting goals and defining the Bonnet House mission statement, a long range plan has been structured in accordance with the requirements for accreditation by the American Association of Museums. As part of the accreditation effort, EDSA, architect George Storrs, AIA, and local preservationists have completed several studies of the property including facilities programming for the house, collections, and grounds. In the 1980's, a master plan for the property was developed under the direction of EDSA and environmental permits negotiated. Completed additions include a boardwalk through the mangrove forest and a docking pavilion to accommodate waterborne guests, much like facilities at such venerable homes as Whitehall in Palm Beach and Vizcaya in Miami. A native plant palette, a sand driveway and natural water fluctuation in ponds were retained to maintain the site's character. Subsequently, EDSA has worked with the Board of Directors to update the original master planning efforts. For instance, sites have been identified for two buildings that may be moved to the property from Mrs. Bartlett's Massachusetts farm (known as "Bothways"). The updated master plan also highlights an archaeological site on the east side of the property and sites an ocean viewing platform in the historic location of a safe house where sailors once found refuge for the night. New features are envisioned as components of the grounds tours. Venetian Pool Constructed from a rock quarry in the 1920's, Coral Gables' Venetian Pool was originally designed to look old by artist Denam Fink and architect Phineas Paist. Yet, the historic treasure had lost its original ambience and drawn criticism from environmentalists for wasteful water consumption when, in the early 1980's, the City of Coral Gables designated $2.3 million to restore the facility (including the pool landscape, irrigation, and related site work). The City's primary objective was to restore the pool to its original character. EDSA, together with Miami architect H. Carlton Decker, AIA, coordinated the conversion of the pool from an 820,000 gallon daily waste and fill system to a modern injection well recharge system, also providing site preservation and restoration contract documents, bid assistance and site inspection. Other design issues included a waterfall adaptation to replace an existing high dive and design of historically themed site elements including planters, furnishings, and pavers. Emphasis was placed on blending new plantings with existing landscape features so that the finished product resembles a mature landscape which has aged with the pool itself. The City's financial gamble has paid off in terms of a functional facility that is aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly, and handicapped accessible and whose liability has been decreased by the elimination of the high dive. Indeed, the Venetian Pool renovation is so successful that it has won awards from the National American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. Stouffer Vinoy Resort Once a focal arena of St. Petersburg society dating from 1925, The Vinoy Resort sat vacant -- and in disrepair for years -- until, in the mid-1980's, Stouffer Hotels and Resorts purchased it as part of their most ambitious restoration effort ever. EDSA provided full services from conceptual design through construction administration, including tree relocation strategies for the landmark palm collection. This ambitious restoration program involved over 400 Washingtonia, Sabal, Canary Island Date, and Sengal Date palms, all of which were used in and around the hotel site and adjacent golf course. However, this program is only part of the reason the Stouffer Vinoy Resort received both a 1994 Honor Award from the ASLA in Florida and the 1994 Florida Nurserymen & Growers Association Design Award. Research by EDSA and Miami architect William Cox, AIA, revealed an original design based on Moorish architecture. This style, incorporating themes from the Alhambra in southern Spain, was carried through EDSA's site design along with other history-laden elements. For instance, a street that was abandoned to accommodate the renovation design yielded tens of thousands of bricks, which were stockpiled for later use as pavers for the new arrival court, walkways, and the tea garden. Interestingly, these bricks had had their origin as ballast for merchant ships traveling to St. Petersburg and, when unloaded, had ultimately become paving material for many of St. Petersburg's streets. Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk Postcards depicting Fort Lauderdale in the 1930's show the city's New River lined by pleasure boats, with many seasonal visitors living aboard for the winter. Thereafter, as urban development occurred, its Riverfront became increasingly more unattractive and inaccessible to the public . . . until 1986. That year, Fort Lauderdale residents passed a $44 million bond issue for civic improvements, allocating a significant portion for the formation of a Riverwalk. The Riverwalk was to be a riverfront public space, intended to spur economic development while showcasing the "Beach City's" lesser known water amenity. Accordingly, EDSA designed one continuous mile on either side of the New River into a linear park, creating 28 acres of waterfront public access within blocks of the central business district. The plan extends into the central business district with linkages and a coordinated parking program, making the Riverwalk a new focus of urban design. Among the varied riverfront and urban environments, a small but significant historic district demanded the most from the design team. The historic district was chosen as Phase I (coinciding with the opening of the adjacent Performing Arts Center) to create instant activity and exposure to the public. Public access was introduced into the wooded riverfront yards of the New River Inn and Bryan Homes structures with a broad public promenade. The popularity of this district has spurred adaptive reuse of other historic structures including restaurants, antique shops, the Historical Society and local American Institute of Architects (AIA) offices, all of whom have preserved the landmark status of their new homes. Is it any wonder the project as a whole has been honored with awards, including the 1994 National Landscape Award, and has also brought renewed focus to the city's greatest non-beach resource and spurred downtown development?