Ormond Beach FL Architecture Featured in New Book

Justin A. Nylander appreciates the varied architecture of the Ormond Beach area, and has combined his love of architecture with a skill in photography to create a coffee table book of Mediterranean revival homes throughout Florida. The book, titled "Casas to Castles: Florida's Historic Mediterranean Revival Architecture," features four homes in Ormond Beach, three in Daytona Beach, two in DeLand and 32 in nine other Florida cities. The full color book contains the history of each house, stories about the owners and 350 photos showing both exteriors and interiors.

Mediterranean revival, a blend of Spanish, Italian and Moorish style, which usually features red barrel tiles, iron work and stucco, appeared in Southern California in the 1920s when movie stars began building mansions. He said it was copied around the country, including Florida, which was experiencing a land boom at the time. Nylander attributes the variety of architecture in this area to the wealthy people from the north who built homes in Daytona Beach and surrounding communities in the early 20th century. Personally, he is currently renovating a Mediterranean home in Ormond Beach that was built in the 1920s.

In Ormond Beach, the book features The Doldrums on State Road A1A which was designed by noted architect Harry Griffin, who also was responsible for the post office on Beach Street in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach homes in his book include the Rothschild Manor in the Ocean Dunes neighborhood, where a survivor of the Titanic lived for many years, and the Donnelly Mansion in the Seabreeze neighborhood, which is now a bed and breakfast called the Villa.

Why did Nylander pick Ormond Beach for his next book and remodel project? He grew up in Southern California, and said, "I had a love of architecture since I was a small child. I would look at beautiful homes and wonder what they were like inside." He discovered Ormond Beach in his travels and decided to move here after working in the entertainment industry in Las Angeles for 20 years. He was a songwriter, director and artist manager. "I like Ormond Beach. It's not too busy and not too quiet," he said. "I wanted to get out of the Los Angeles rat race."

"Casas to Castles: Florida's Historic Mediterranean Revival Architecture" is available for preorder at the Amazon and Barnes & Nobel Web sites and will be released to bookstores nationwide Feb. 28.

Come to Ormond Beach FL and see for yourself our homes and lifestyle. As the author says, "Many of the historic homes in this area need some TLC." At our bargain prices, you'd have room to renovate and be ready for the inevitable upswing in values. Maybe even find a home that qualifies for the National Historic Register and enjoy some tax savings. Call or email me for ideas, and learn more about Ormond Beach on my web site.