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Discovering Rio Vista

ARCHITECTURE

By Patricia Zeiler, Executive Director, History Fort Lauderdale

lmost every architectural style applied to
South Florida residential design can be found
Ain the Rio Vista neighborhood. For instance,
a short walk down SE 5th Court reveals nine distinct
design styles spanning from 1918 to 1965.
Rio Vista’s building styles include vernacular folk
houses, bungalows, 1920s “boomtime” homes,
Spanish Eclectic and Mediterranean Revival
mansions, Art Deco houses, and Mid-century
Modern homes. The architects who shaped Rio
Vista contributed significantly to South Florida’s
architectural landscape and landmarks. The
neighborhood boasts several homes designed by
the notable Francis Abreu, but other prominent
architects include Courtney Stewart, the youngest
and first Florida-trained architect in Broward County;
Robert Hansen, known for his role in popularizing
the Subtropical Modern Style, a local adaptation
of Mid-century Modern architecture, often referred
to as MiMo in Miami; and G.P. Johnson, who
designed the Bahia Cabana.
Theo A. Meyer, architect of the Tiffany House, and
Johnson also collaborated on the design of Rio
Vista’s Bethany Presbyterian Church. Additionally,
Robert M. Little, another Subtropical Modern
architect, designed the Pick Music Library and
Merrick Building at the University of Miami, while
William T. Vaughn designed over thirty homes in
Rio Vista, along with numerous residences, beach
hotels, and apartments throughout the area.
Fort Lauderdale Historical Society
has begun offering walking tours of the
Rio Vista neighborhood.
For more information phone 954-463-4431.

22 rio vista civic association • www.riovistaonline.com

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