Building Name:                                              Barbour Residence “Casa Feliz”

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Address:                                                          656 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789

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Link to location on Google Maps:                Click here

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Year Built:                                                        1932, moved and restored 2002

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Architect of Record:                                       James Gamble Rogers II

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Design Architect (if different):                       RLF architects of restoration

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General Contractor:                                       Frank Roark (restoration)                                    

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Noteworthy Architectural Features:             Originally designed to have an aged look, the front façade features a pointed arch porte cochere, a rounded turret stair tower, heavy timber balcony and bell tower.­­

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How to Visit:                                                   Limited tours available by appointment ONLY. Tour groups limited to 6 people or fewer. No exceptions. Tour requests: 407-628-8200.

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Architectural Style:                                        Spanish Eclectic ‘Andalusian’ farmhouse style

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Website:                                                         https://casafeliz.us/

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Related Links:                                                https://www.orlandoarchitecture.org/post/the-happy-house

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Casa Feliz was narrowly saved from the wrecking ball in 2000 when the new owners announced they wanted to raise it and replace it with a larger house to their design.  The house now rests on the edge of the Winter Park golf course at the north end of Knowles Avenue.

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This incredible house has always been cherished by the community who collected $1.2 million to move the house. This house is full of intricate detail because of the time and budget afforded the architect at the time, and the client’s desire to give the architect free range to create a masterpiece.

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Description:

 

Robert Barbour, a Massachusetts industrialist, lived in Winter Park for 18 years and was well involved in the community when he set about purchasing a lakefront lot on Interlachen Avenue, and searching for an architect. While out one day he came across James Gamble Rogers’ own Norman Style home on the Isle of Sicily (since demolished) and inquired at the home for the name of the architect. Thus meeting Rogers, he hired him on the spot to design a Spanish style farmhouse.

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References:

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF JAMES GAMBLE ROGERS II IN WINTER PARK FLORIDA, Patrick W. McClane and Debra A. McClane, 2004, University Press of Florida, 171 pgs.

A GUIDE TO HISTORIC WINTER PARK FLORIDA, Steve Rajtar and Gayle Prince Rajtar, 2008, The History Press, 142 pgs.

 

3D Scan/Pointcloud link:                               https://chronopoints.eecs.ucf.edu/casa_feliz_wp/