6801 Granada Blvd
Coral Gables, Florida
Residential
Alfred Browning Parker
2016-2022
In 1951, Dr. D.B. Caudle and his wife commissioned Alfred Browning Parker to design their new 2-level waterfront home. Originally platted as the Cartee Homestead, Dr. Caudle demanded large walls without fenestration to prioritize privacy from the waterway, Parker and Mrs. Caudle sought large fenestration.
Over the next sixty years (between 1952 and 2015), numerous changes took place and between 2016 and 2022, we restored the project to Alfred Browning Parker’s original intent as much as we could.
There were several improvements to the home since original, with the most impactful in 1984 when a large 2-level addition designed by Ferendino, Grafton, Spillis-Candela, connected various structures on the property into one[1].
In 2015, the lot in which the home is located was diminished into two lots, and further improvements to the structure designed by Richard J. Heisenbottle, FAIA including a large addition, having City of Coral Gables preliminary approval for the design AB-15-09-4822 (“2015 Improvements”)
The 2015 Improvements called for a larger, 2-level addition increasing the prominence and building-upon the 1984 improvements.[2], interior and exterior of the original structure, including all-new exterior doors and windows.
In 2016, WHAA became involved in the project and proposed reductions in the prominence and size of the alterations, increases to fenestration to achieve more of Parker’s original ision for the site and obtained final approved BL-16-10-6607 as architect-of-record.
[1] See pages 123 of 134 of the plans provided by Building Records.
[2] See pages on-file for AB-15-09-4822.
Project Team
-
Wm. H. Arthur IV, AIA NCARB
Architect -
Angela A. Anzola
Permitting -
Yailyn O. Barrera
Drafting -
Maggie Gault
Drafting -
Chris Muchow
Drafting -
Nicholas "Whitey" Lowe
3d Renderings -
Heather J. Johnson
-
Noemi
The WHAA Design sought a reduced size of the addition, increased compatibility with what Parker envisioned for the site, increased fenestration and improved detailing. As part of our proposed changes, WHAA removed more of the Spillis-Candela work, because those improvements were inconsistent with Parker’s original vision.
WHAA also increased ventilation, natural lighting, and versatility of the floor plan― which were significant characteristics of Parker during the period in which the home was built.
South Florida is home to a distinct form of local modernism pioneered by Alfred Browning Parker. Establishing his practice in the 1940s, Alfred Browning Parker gained international attention by incorporating unique geologic forms into Modernist Architecture and at times, through the hands of his own personal craftsmanship.
Frank Lloyd Wright, who famously disliked other South Florida Modernists, became familiar with Alfred Browning Parker’s work through national publications such as House Beautiful, the primary architecture magazine during the 1950s and 60s, naming four of Parker’s residences as “Pace Setter” houses. Wright grew to appreciate Alfred Browning Parker’s regional sense of Modernism, giving rise to Wright nominating Parker for AIA Fellowship in 1959.
South Florida’s regional sense of Modernism as developed by Parker, expounded on South Florida’s unique geologic history originating from the Paleozoic era when the upper portion of West Africa merged with North American forming The Florida Platform— a 135,000-square-mile pedestal of stone extending 3,000 feet below sea level! Florida’s submersion under warm, shallow, ocean waters during the Oligocene Epoch transformed thousands of feet of this stone into a material called Oolite, just six inches below South Florida’s land surfaces; the primary material which Alfred Browning Parker utilized.