Sunday, March 9, 2014

The Architecture of Paradise Palms: Decorative Stone


Decorative stone and rockwork was a staple of mid-century home design, and Paradise Palms has some great examples of eye-catching and varied stonework. Most of the builders in Paradise Palms – with the exception of the Miranti Homes – offered decorative stone accents on their homes.  Each builder had their own distinct method of using stone, creating great design variations throughout the community.  Typically stonework was typically laid in large, full or flat-faced pieces and used to highlight architecture.  Stacked stone, or stone extending across the entire base of houses, a common look on the suburban tract homes of today, wasn’t utilized making the decorative stone of Paradise Palms distinctly mid-mod and a key architectural identifier of our community.

Americana used decorative stone to accent chimneys, anchor entryways, and accent portions of the bases of their homes.  A distinct characteristic of the Americana luxury homes was the utilization of decorative stone on chimneys extending from the midpoint of rooflines, a higher end feature of the 1960s.  The Palmer & Krisel-designed homes built by Paradise Homes offered decorative stone typically in a massing form – decorative stone served as anchors to walls where dramatic rooflines and clearstory windows soared above. The stones found on the Palmer & Krisels were smaller than those seen on the Americanas, with varying degrees of color and texture. 

Signature Americana decorative stone chimney extending from roof midpoint
In Stellar Greens, D.L. Bradley used decorative stone to accent chimneys, anchor entryways and add drama to facades.  A feature unique to Stellar Greens was to include small vertical portions of stacked stone set amongst larger rock, creating spectacular unique mid-century modern patterns.  Tropical Estates offered chunky lava rock on some models, a popular feature that most builders offered in some form in reaction to the tiki culture that spread across the country during the mid-century.  Eastern Enterprises typically used decorative stone in Fontainebleau Estates to accent entries, architecturally creating a focal point at the center of the home, giving the front doors a presence.

Time has added more variations to the decorative rock accents of Paradise Palms – stone has been painted, removed and in a few cases, homeowners have found matches and covered entire facades in decorative rock.  Just like decorative concrete screen block, the decorative stone of Paradise Palms is a staple of mid-century design and one of the significant architectural details of the community. Here’s a look at some of the signature rockwork of Paradise Palms:

Signature Americana decorative stone chimney
Signature Americana decorative stone chimney
Americana home with decorative stone at entry
Signature Americana decorative stone chimney extending from roof midpoint and decorative stone at entry
Unique Americana home with wide decorative stone chimney 
Signature Americana decorative stone chimney extending from roof midpoint & decorative stone flanking the living room picture window
Palmer & Krisel home with decorative stone chimney
Decorative stone wall on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative stone wall with original clerestory windows above on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home
While not part of the original home, this is a great example of a classic mid-century decorative stone on a courtyard fence
Decorative lava rock wall  near entry on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative lava rock wall on a Palmer & Krisel home 
Decorative lava rock wall on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative lava rock wall on a Palmer & Krisel home
Decorative stone chimney in Stellar Greens - note small stacked stones which add variety to the surface texture
Decorative stone chimney in Stellar Greens
While not original to this Stellar Greens home, the front courtyard wall  has been designed in a mid century style that compliments the other stonework found on neighboring homes
Detail of Stellar Greens decorative stonework
Decorative stone flanking the entryway of a Stellar Greens home
Decorative stone accent wall on a Tropical Estates home
Decorative stone accent wall on a Tropical Estates home
Decorative stone accent wall on a Tropical Estates home
Decorative stone flanking entryway on a Tropical Estates home
Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home
Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home
Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home
Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home
Decorative stone accent wall on a Paradise Palms custom home
Decorative stone abounds on one of Paradise Palm's most recognizable custom homes, The Casino house, built by Tropical Estates developers Val and Lee Valentine