Coral Gables was platted in the 1920s with an architectural vocabulary written into the plan rather than left to individual builders. A century later the vocabulary is still legible, which is unusual for an American city of its size.
The elements
Barrel tile roofs, stucco over masonry, arched openings, wrought iron, and locally quarried coral rock for sills, surrounds, and garden walls. The loggia — a covered outdoor room attached to the principal living space — is the element that most defines how these houses are actually used.
What design review means
Exterior alterations in Coral Gables are reviewed by the city. For owners this means a process for windows, roofing, paint colour, and additions, and a timeline to plan around. It is also the reason the architectural character has held while comparable districts elsewhere have not.
Renovating within it
The most successful renovations in the original plat tend to leave the street elevation intact and do their work at the rear, opening the kitchen and family rooms toward the garden. Impact-rated glazing is now available in profiles that satisfy review, which was not true fifteen years ago.