Thearchitecture ofJacksonville is a combination of historic and modern styles reflecting the city's early position as a regional center of business. According to theNational Trust for Historic Preservation, there are more buildings built before 1967 in Jacksonville than any other city in Florida,[1] though few structures in the city center predate theGreat Fire of 1901.[2] Numerous buildings in the city have held state height records, dating as far back as 1902,[3] and last holding a record in 1981.[4]
Contributing heavily during the reconstruction period following the Great Fire of 1901, a young New York architect namedHenry John Klutho would come to influence generations of local designers. Klutho's works exhibit elements influenced by both theChicago School, championed byLouis Sullivan, and thePrairie School of architecture, popularized byFrank Lloyd Wright. As a result, Jacksonville has one of the largest collections of Prairie Style buildings outside the Midwest.[5]
By the 1950s, modernist design principles would permeate throughout the United States, transforming the rapidly growing State of Florida.[6] During this period, local architectsRobert C. Broward,Taylor Hardwick, andWilliam Morgan adapted a range of design principles, includingInternational style, Brutalism, Futurism and Organicism, all applied with an American interpretation generally referred to today asMid-century modern design.[7] The architecture firms ofReynolds, Smith & Hills (RS&H)[8] andKemp, Bunch & Jackson (KBJ) have also contributed a number of important works to the city's modern architectural movement. In particular, KBJ has designed more buildings in the contemporary skyline of Jacksonville than any other architectural firm. Of the 30 tallest buildings in the city, 17 are associated with KBJ.[9] With the notable exception of works byRobert A.M. Stern Architects,Welton Becket,Paul Rudolph, andHelmut Jahn, many of Jacksonville's modern landmarks were designed locally.
TheGreat Fire of 1901 consumed much of central Jacksonville, leaving thousands homeless, and simultaneously sparked a significant period of growth lasting up until the end of theFlorida Land Boom.Springfield,Riverside,Avondale,Eastside, Oakland and Fairfield had been platted and annexed into the city prior to the fire, and experienced much of the related growth after the disaster. ArchitectHenry John Klutho would become a popular figure in the reconstruction of Jacksonville, contributing his designs to many of the new structures, including dwellings. Built in 1902, TheThomas V. Porter House is aClassical Revival andColonial Revival style mansion designed by Klutho. He is better known for his works in thePrairie School style of architecture. His own home,Henry John Klutho House, is a prime example. The architecture firm ofMarsh & Saxelbye would also establish itself during this period of growth. In 1925, the firm designed theTudor Revival styleLane-Towers House. More famously,Epping Forest, completed in 1927, is aSpanish Colonial Revival style mansion designed by Marsh & Saxelbye.
Following World War II, suburbs rapidly developed throughout the United States, due in large part to the rise of personal automobile ownership. Following the opening of theMathews Bridge,Arlington would become the most important of these developments locally. This period also coincided with the popularization ofModern design in architecture. Designed byRobert C. Broward, the Butterfly House was completed in 1957 in the Arlington neighborhood. Its design elements, including the butterfly wing shaped roof, are sometime more broadly categorized today asMid-century modern design.[10] The Jacksonville Beaches also host a number of modern homes built during this period. Famed architectPaul Rudolph designed the iconicMilam House in 1961, which is on theNational Register of Historic Places.William Morgan designed the Williamson House in 1966, and his own home, Morgan House, in 1974. Both are located on the beach.[11]
Jacksonville is home to a variety of museums of varied styles. Completed in 1921, theKarpeles Manuscript Library Museum is aClassical Revival building originally constructed for the Church of Christian Scientist. It was designed by the local architecture firmMarsh & Saxelbye. Also designed by Marsh & Saxelbye, theMuseum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville was originally built in 1931 for the Western Union Telegraph Company, and stands as one of Jacksonville's best examples ofArt Deco in architecture.[29] Another example of Art Deco is theCummer Museum of Art and Gardens. Completed in 1961, the fine arts museum was designed by Saxelby & Powell. Constructed in 1965, the Jacksonville Art Museum was predecessor of what is now the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville. Designed byTaylor Hardwick, the building is located in theMidtown Centre office complex. Originally built in 1969 as the Jacksonville Children's Museum,William Morgan'sBrutalist designed museum currently houses theMuseum of Science and History.
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