Exploring Coral Gables’ Exotic Themed Villages
CORAL GABLES (May 31, 2016)—Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate presents three unique homes in the historic villages of Coral Gables. The villages, a vision by George Merrick, are a collection of six historic cultural communities representing traditional-style homes from around the world. Located near the University of Miami, the six villages include the Florida Pioneer, the French 18th Century, the French Normandy, the Dutch South African, the Italian, and the Chinese. For a closer look into the historic villages, Coldwell Banker is highlighting three homes -- two in the Chinese village and one in the Italian village, each co-listed by Laura Mullaney and Jane Gomez-Mena with the company’s Coral Gables office.
The Chinese village is home to eight uniquely designed residences, all linked together by a common wall with decorative gates. The connection between the homes creates a sense of community, further enhancing the uniqueness of the village. Each of the residences was designed by New York architect Henry Killam Murphy. A scholar of Oriental architecture, Murphy’s expertise allowed for a consistent and fluid design among all eight homes in the Chinese village. Shortly after completing the Chinese village, Murphy was hired to design a modern capital for China in Nanjing, resulting in the construction of several notable buildings and historic preservation projects.
Sales associates Mullaney and Gomez-Mena have listed one of the Chinese village homes for $2.5 million. Located at 534 Menendez Avenue, the architecture reflects the core concepts of Chinese design, feng shui and Taoism, which are evident in the color palate and materials of the home. This property features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a separate one-bedroom guest house, and nearly 3,500 squarefeet of living space.
A second Murphy-designed residence is 5129 Riviera, listed for $1.645 million. The two-story home maintains nearly all of the architect’s original designs of traditional Chinese architecture, adapted to modern needs. The second floor of the home features a terrace and two Juliet balconies. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom historic home includes an intricately landscaped yard and added privacy from mature trees.
The Italian village, designed by architects Alfred L. Klingbeil, John and Coulton Skinner, R.F. Ware, and Robert Law Weed, are a collection of 17 homes. The homes are inspired by Italian farm houses and 17thcentury Italian villas. Each home has its own distinction, although the homes follow the same style featuring intricate courtyards and gardens, terracotta roofing, balconies, and light-colored stucco.
In the Italian village, 4300 Palmarito Street is listed for $1.999 million. The five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence was designed by architects Frank Wyatt Woods and Robert Law Weed. The estate features a two-story living room, courtyard style gardens, impact windows, and over 6,000 square feet of living space. An immaculate pool is surrounded with a brick patio and lush landscaping. Tall ceilings with wood accent beams highlight the oversized fireplace and large, arched windows.
“Coral Gables and the surrounding area generally has new construction and homes built from 1920-1950, so these historic villages provide an option for home buyers looking for properties with character and cultural significance,” said Laura Mullaney. “I’m seeing buyers coming to Coral Gables specifically for the unique cultural architecture and historic value that these homes offer. These are truly one-of-a-kind and are in very limited supply, so the homes sell quickly and they sell to buyers that are very knowledgeable about historic properties.”
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is a leading full-service residential real estate brokerage company with more than 85 offices and 5,000 sales associates serving the communities of Central Florida, Flagler, Brevard, Palm Beach, Southeast Florida, Southwest Florida, Tampa Bay and the Panhandle. Worldwide, the Coldwell Banker network includes 3,000 offices with nearly 85,000 sales associates. Every day, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate properties are exposed to 16 million buyers on more than 725 high-traffic websites. For more information or to view local listings, visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com. To learn more about a career in real estate or affiliating with Coldwell Banker, visit CareersCB.com. Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is a subsidiary of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company.
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