§ 70-298. Historic survey.

(a)

Historic site survey. A review of the historical site survey, prepared by Research Atlantica, Inc. in 1990, combined with recent field investigations, reveals that the town's original styles of architecture have remained constant with the exception of a few additional styles. Prior to the 1930s, homes in the town were roughly 1/3 Mediterranean Revival style, 1/3 British Colonial (a.k.a Gulf Stream-Bermuda) and 1/3 other styles including Monterey and Vernacular styles.

This 1940 Monterey style house exhibits several characteristic details:

• cantilevered second-story balcony

• front and side gables

• shingled roof

• simple front entry

In Gulf Stream, most of the vernacular houses are classified as "polo cottages" and are located near the Gulf Stream School. Examples exist in both frame and masonry construction that were built during the late 1920's and early 1930's. These houses are one story in height and simple in design:

• gable roof

• bay or bow window

• brick or horizontal weatherboard

• attic louvers

• A-frame cap chimney

• shingled roof

(b)

Spanish Mediterranean Revival Style Architecture.

(1)

History. The earliest buildings designed in the town exemplify the Mediterranean Revival style. Addison Mizner's (1872—1933) Spanish Revival buildings revolutionized architectural design in the Palm Beach area and created an identifying style for much of South Florida in the 1920s. The Mediterranean Revival style offered an attractive alternative to existing architecture. Mizner's style swept resort architecture and set a precedent for design for several years.

(2)

Clubhouse. In Gulf Stream, Mizner's Gulf Stream Golf Club Clubhouse served as the town's beginning. Soon, other well-known architects designed beachfront houses using this style. Mediterranean Revival style architecture can best be described as an eclectic style that depends on the Mission and Spanish Colonial Revival styles for its roots. It uses elements of Italian, Spanish, Moorish, and even French themes to elaborate on the earlier, more simple styles. All of the Mediterranean houses in Gulf Stream have stucco exteriors and barrel tile roofs. Although many of the buildings exhibit similar overall style, details vary considerably.

(3)

Town hall and police station. The Town of Gulf Stream has maintained the tradition of building its public and civic buildings in the Mediterranean Revival style. Both the Town Hall and Police Station were designed in the style most characterized with South Florida.

(c)

Bermuda Style Architecture.

(1)

History. Although the first recorded style was Mediterranean Revival, examples of British Colonial houses were designed as early as 1926. It was not until the late 1930s and early 1940s that the British Colonial style established a foothold in the town. This style of architecture developed from an interest in Colonial Revival, Georgian style, and British-Caribbean or Bermuda architecture. As various subdivisions were developed, the Bermuda style gained popularity. Gulf Stream-Bermuda style architecture is currently the most predominant style in Gulf Stream. Gulf Stream's "Bermuda" style, however, differs from its native roots. The designers and builders of the old Bermuda island houses had relatively few complications with which to contend. Their pursuits were for the most part agricultural and sea-faring, resulting in a simple lifestyle with little emphasis on luxury.

(2)

Environment. Bermuda architecture is eminently appropriate to its climate and other local conditions, harmonious and in scale with the surroundings. Because the most identifiable traditions are those of rural English architecture, the architecture is in no sense grand, nor is it even considered important compared to that of other lands. Its appeal lies chiefly in the fact that it is very simple, straightforward, and is an expression and outcome of its environment.

(3)

Materials. Traditional construction materials include local indigenous cedar, for rafters and floor joists, and limestone, which is easily quarried and used as blocks for walls and tiles for roofs.

(4)

Roofs.

a.

Almost all Bermuda roofs are tiled and whitewashed. The tiles usually overlap in the fashion of slates or shingles in horizontally parallel rows. Each tile or "slate" is 1½ inches thick and measures approximately 10 inches wide by 12 inches long. The entire roof surface is heavily coated with a watertight whitewash to maintain the purity of the rain water which is channeled and saved in storage tanks below the house.

b.

The eaves have a small projection of only six to ten inches which are supported by exposed rafter tails. This type of eave was adapted to Bermuda architecture to prevent the occasional hurricanes from destroying or up-lifting the roofs.

c.

Roof styles vary, including hipped roofs and roofs with gables. Often a combination exists on the same house. There is no standard angle or pitch. On traditional Bermuda homes, roof surfaces are never interrupted by dormer windows, and roof spans are small, often under 18 feet.

(5)

Floor plan. Limited spans restrict large floor plans and contribute to the general small scale of Bermuda houses. Floor plans are a simple succession of rectangular rooms often forming square, U-shaped, and L-shaped configurations. When the house became too small, additional rooms were added as projecting wings to the original plan. This was often done in an incremental fashion, but frequently resulted in symmetry and order.

(6)

Many of the houses in the town exhibit Bermuda style and characteristics; however, they are not true Bermuda architecture. The Gulf Stream-Bermuda style architecture references British Colonial, Bermuda, Island Regency, and traits of Georgian style architecture, with the strongest influence being Bermuda architecture. The houses in the town have adapted these styles to the subtropical climate of the state.

Building setbacks

Contrasting shutters

Low pitched roof

Multi-paned windows

Simple, rectilinear forms

White tile roof

Decorative capped chimney

Exposed rafter tails

Hip roof

Low combination wall/fence

Pastel color

Smooth stucco finish

White concrete tile

(7)

The key characteristics of Bermuda architecture are as follows:

Contrasting shutters

Decorative, capped chimney

Exposed rafter tails

High multi-pane windows

Pastel color

Quoin detailing

Simple, sturdy wood door

Single or multiple pitched hip/gable roofs

Small overhang

Tiled, whitewashed roof

(Ord. No. 00-1, §§ 64, 65, 3-10-00)