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Physical Description of Sit, kattach 1 or 2 photos):
<br />Water Court Villa
<br />The Water Court Villa is an excellent example of the Mediterranean Revival style in Dade
<br />County for its setting, the environmental responses of its design and its attention to
<br />details. The house is built at the western tip of Atlantic Island, on the water's edge,
<br />much the same way that buildings in Venice come right up to the canals. Water is within
<br />view of the house on three sides; taking the place of a backyard and most of the courtyard
<br />on the south side, viewed through the trellised pergola on the west, and discerned through
<br />the space between other houses to the north. The house responds beautifully to its
<br />surroundings, making maidroan use of the prevailing breezes of its rear ocean side
<br />location. Window groups, set in cross ventilation patterns, balconies, roof overhangs, a
<br />central courtyard facing directly out over the canal, and the building's multiple massing,
<br />are all part of the environmental techniques employed.
<br />The house consists of two rectangular wings, symmetrically arranged about a central
<br />courtyard, connected only by a light, open, two story breezeway. The overall plan is
<br />H-shaped, as the connecting breezeway is recessed from the plane of the front elevation.
<br />The house is two stories, with low hip roofs connected by a low gable over the two story
<br />gallery. The structure is masonry, faced in stucco, and roofs are covered in barrel or
<br />Mission clay tiles. The central, two story gallery has seven arches resting on Tuscan
<br />inspired columns on the ground floor. The second story has the same number of openings
<br />screened -in, and supported by short wooden posts resting an a low masonry wall, with
<br />decorative brackets and a flat lintel above. The front of the left (east) wing has two
<br />double garage doors on the first floor, with low elliptical arch configurations and large,
<br />iron strap hinges. Centered over these doors, on the second floor, are three arched
<br />windows grouped together, with a decorative wrought iron balconette in front. The right
<br />wing has three windows with flat arches grouped together on the ground floor, and three
<br />arched windows fronted by a baconette, identical to the corresponding fenestration on the
<br />left wing. Windows are wood double casement type, with six lights each. Small coats of
<br />arms flank second story fenestration on both wings, while two small iron lanterns flank
<br />the double garage doors. The main doorway is located an the right wing, where the arcaded
<br />gallery connects with the building mass. The door is of wood panels, with a screened door
<br />in front.
<br />Beyond the gallery, the central courtyard is shallow, with more than two thirds of its
<br />depth taken up by the water that comes up to an oolitic limestone retaining wall. The
<br />second story gallery is continued on. the two building masses flanking the central space in
<br />the form of wide, projecting balconies. The balconies are of wood, with the same pattern
<br />of screened -in openings as the center gallery. The supporting wooden posts rest on large
<br />wood brackets, with wood pendants at the connection of the bracket with supporting post.
<br />The house is set back on the property with a large manicured front lawn, embellished by a
<br />row of tall royal palms. To the left of the house is the pergola, the highlight of the
<br />entire complex.
<br />The Pergola
<br />The Pergola is an open pavilion based on a central block with symmetrical wings plan. The
<br />central portion has a square plan defined by four square masonry piers carrying a barrel
<br />tiled hip roof. The roof has three different pitches giving it a flared effect
<br />reminiscent of Oriental architecture. The infill plane between piers is defined by
<br />trellis work in a Palladian or triumphal arch motif. A central arch rests on slender
<br />columns, and the space over the arch and flanking it is all wood trellis. The two wings
<br />are defined by three Tuscan inspired columns on each elevation, carrying wood rafters with
<br />decorative ends. There is no infill between columns or rafters. The pergola sits on a
<br />concrete deck built right on the water, connected to the land on only one side. The deck
<br />is in poor condition, and has almost broken loose from the land altogether. The structure
<br />appears light, airy and transparent, without walls or a roof, except over the central
<br />portion. It is a perfect garden sculpture for its setting and climax for the entire
<br />island.
<br />Significance - Brief summary including documentary evidence that indicates the historical,
<br />architectural or archeological significance of the site.
<br />The house at 334 Atlantic Avenue was reportedly built in 1927. Its original occupant has
<br />not been ascertained. Available records indicate that the hour was originally owned by
<br />the Sunny Isles Ocean Beach Company, and no individual homeowner appears for the property
<br />until 1963. It is known that in 1936 the home was sold by the Sunny Isles Ocean Beach
<br />Company to James L. Lee, a real estate broker. The home was sold as part of a large real
<br />estate transaction involving many acres of oceanfront property in the area of Sunny Isles.
<br />The total purchase price of the real estate deal was one million dollars. In the sale
<br />contract this residence is specifically referred to as the "Water Court Villa" and
<br />together with its furniture and fixtures represented $25,000 of the total sale price.
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