Exhibit: Atelier - An Education of an Architect

My design professor Mario Ortega put together an exhibit with student work that opens tomorrow at the Coral Gables Museum. Student work from Design studios 1 - 4 will be on display.

If you are in the area please come by the museum. I have some of my studio work there as well...

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Vizcaya Museum and Garden is another important landmark in Miami. Located almost bordering downtown, this beautiful garden and its museum are magnificent. One simply does not expect to find such an amazing garden in a metropolitan area like this. The entrance is only a few blocks away from the highway but once you enter the property you no longer feel that you were just on a highway 2 minutes ago.

** Tip- Students can gain entrance to Vizcaya at a discounted rate of $ 10 by showing the student ID. Trust me, you are going to appreciate what you see for the money you pay.

I started the tour by viewing the main house. Constructed in the early 1900's was the winter residence of James Deering from 1916 up until his time of death in 1925. Destroyed during a hurricane in 1926, it was restored in 1933 - 1934. Later Deering's heirs sold the house and the garden to Dade County below market value to be turned into a public museum. It opened to the public in 1953.

Images by Manori Sumanasinghe (C) 2010

Originally Vizcaya was 180 acres, but after Deering's death and presumable subsequent trouble with finances led the majority of the land to be sold for real estate development. In 1955, the county bought back some of the land from the village and integrated it back to the Garden and the Museum. When you are at the museum, you can find the maps and pictures from the original estate.

Images by Manori Sumanasinghe (C) 2010

The main house is still in very beautiful condition. Credit should be given to those who worked on the restorations all these years. Most of the original fixtures and almost all original furniture are still on display at the museum. Photography is not allowed inside the main house. I am not at all surprised about this considering how old all the wall paintings, furniture, ornaments and rugs, etc. are. It reminds me of a small palace or a European villa.

Image by Manori Sumanasinghe (C) 2010

There were 3 designers involved in the construction of the house and the garden. Paul Chalfin supervised the project as the Artistic coordinator. The Architect for the house and other buildings was F. Burral Hoffman and Diego Suarez was the landscape architect. Together they created one of the most treasured architectural masterpieces in Miami.

Coral Castle - Miami, FL

Happy 2010! I am hoping this year would bring new challenges and that everyone would find strength to face them successfully.

Also, Thank you for visiting my blog last year and continuing to visit.... I'm really enjoying this....

On the 2nd of January, we visited one of the local attractions here in Miami - the Coral Castle. Latvian American Edward Leedskalnin built it all by himself. Built entirely out of stone, there are a couple of megaliths and many beautiful stone furniture. The history of the Coral Castle is as interesting as the things you find there...

Coral Castle, FL - Images by Manori Sumanasinghe (C) 2010

There are megaliths, polaris telescope, water well, fountain and a sun dial. If you are in Miami, I would recommend you to take a trip to the Coral Castle and I am sure you would enjoy it....

Architecture in Miami

One of the assignments for our Architecture History 1 class was to identify buildings/ structures/ gardens with historical architectural styles and influences in Miami and write up a paper.

On Saturday 27th, one of my colleagues and I set off to look for these buildings. We were only able to go to 11 places but it was amazing to see how many interesting places are just around the neighborhood and we never stop to appreciate them.

In Coral Gables area we went to see the Cocoplum woman's club, Schenley park, Church of the little flower, Coral Gables Congregational church, Biltmore hotel, Fountain at the circle by Biltmore, Venetian pool, City hall of Coral Gables. Moving towards Miami, we were able to visit Beth David Congregation, St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church and Chinese styles homes by Sansovino Ave and Maggiore.

1. Cocoplum Woman's club


2. Schenley park


3. Church of the little flower


4. Coral Gables Congregational church

5. The Biltmore hotel


6. Fountain at the circle by Biltmore


7. Venetian pool


8. City hall of Coral Gables


9. Beth David Congregation

10. St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church


11. Chinese styles homes by Sansovino Ave and Maggiore.


We plan to go to Downtown Miami, Opa-Loca and North Miami to see some more buildings next week. I will post the paper once I submit it to the professor.

So stay tuned for that and more.....

** All images by (c) Manori Sumanasinghe, 2009