Florida’s architectural history can be traced to the Spanish colonial settlement of St. Augustine in the mid-16 century, while the state’s architectural development reached its mature stage in the 19th century. Casa Florida is an exuberant, full-color celebration of the enduring influence of Spanish architecture and design upon Florida’s resorts, private houses, and gardens. Casa Florida explores the earliest influences of the Spanish style in the Sunshine State, its revival in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and its contemporary expression in architecture today, with a strong focus on the style’s unifying concept of fantasy and Florida’s unique tendency to inspire enraptured states of mind and spectacular built environments. Susan Sully provides colorful history and anecdotes that complement Steven Brooke’s magnificent full-color photography of the region’s signature style in examples representing the entire state and ranging from the charming to the splendid.
Date Published 10/11/2005
Ratings
Rated By: Michael J. Boonstra
From: Rockledge, FL
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Comments: It's About Time! I have been waiting a long time for a book like this! While the Spanish style homes of California have been documented in numerous books, the large amount of this architecture that was built in Florida during the same period has never gotten the amount of press it deserves. There are books on the architecture of Addison Mizner and a few other noted Florida architects, but nothing comprehensive on the style that was so prevalent during the boom years, and which was used in big cities like Miami and much smaller towns all over the state. This book covers houses from Miami to Winter Park and gives a nice overview of the style. I was very impressed not only by the amazing photographs, but by the histories that went along with each home featured. These histories allow the reader to put the home into its proper context and can be used as guides for people like me that are restoring similar homes. I wasn't as impressed with the newer homes in the back of the book, but there are only three relatively modern houses covered, so it does not take much away from the overall content. Since many of the homes built in this style were smaller bungalows it would have been nice to have seen some of them included, but the homes pictured are stunning! This book is must have.
Rated By: Joyel Love
From: CA
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Comments: Spanish Mansions Oh My! In my hunt for more information on Spanish Style homes, (I own a bungalow in California), I have been frustrated at the limited amount of books out there. I work at a Library, and many of the patrons share the same frustrations. In order to be able to find books on these subjects, I have had to self-teach about the many surrounding subjects; ie, tiles, Mexico, Moorish, Morocco, Spain, etc. This book is one of the better ones. It has beautiful pictures on how to decorate and landscape. I learned that air-conditioning changed architecture in a substantive way. I had also never heard about concrete ceilings made to look like wood before, apparently a Florida staple, due to humidity. These houses are oh-my-Gorgeous! The only problem was that the author frequently discussed beautiful rooms and details of the houses, then didn't show pictures. Maybe/hopefully, they're saving those pics for a follow-up book on interiors and details? I agree with the previous reviewer, how about a book now on Florida Spanish bungalows?
Rated By: Hugh Mcgarity
From: Unavailable
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Comments: book review we are having a new villa style home built and have gotten many wonderful ideas from the camera art in this book. page after page of wonderful spanish/mediterranean homes are pictured in this beautiful volume.
Rated By: John Matlock "Gunny"
From: Winnemucca, NV
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Comments: Spanish Architecture a la Florida is Different than California The first town in the New World was in Florida and it was a Spanish town. Since then the Spanish influence on the arthitecture and culture of Florida has been large.
In this book a selection of buildings has been carefully selected to illustrate the history of Spanish-style structures from across the state. From an age standpoint, there are some quite old (but certainly not run down) homes varying up through some modern homes built using traditional styling. A few commercial buildings such as hotels are also included.
From a style standpoint, the homes of Florida seem to have been influenced more by a Mediterranean, even Moorish, look than the Spanish architecture houses more common in the Western States that have more of a Mexican influence.
Beautiful pictures beautifully printed on a high quality matte finished paper add a warmth to the book that glossy magazine style printing imparts.
Florida’s architectural history can be traced to the Spanish colonial settlement of St. Augustine in the mid-16 century, while the state’s architectural development reached its mature stage in the 19th century. Casa Florida is an exuberant, full-color celebration of the enduring influence of Spanish architecture and design upon Florida’s resorts, private houses, and gardens. 
