The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-05-24
|Cypress-Concrete Duplex
A Triumph OF Tropical
Design And Construction
MRS. II. E.. BOWEN
BUILDS TWO
APARTMENTS FOR
OWNER-TENANTS
BY SUSAN MeAVoY

adapted herself quickly to her tow
OF choice, Key West.
She has, moreover, adapted he,
architectural ideas to the tropics
with the result that her newly fin
lshed duplex house at 1880 FRS
street at the corner of Seidenbers
Avenue is one the finest example.
of tropical modern to go up in Key
West this year.
! Of white concrete block and cy
press, painted a startlingly effec
tive cobalt blue, the two story
house dominates the entire blocI
by its height and color.
Architect Montgomery Atwter O
Miami drew the plans for Mrs
Bowen. Edward Amber, contrac
tor built the house in three months
On a corner lot. Mrs. Bowen and
her architect designed the house to
catch Key Vests famous southeast
prevailing bleeze through ialousies
of glass and wooden Slated win.
dows.
One of the most unique features
outside is the cypress fence which
encioses the garden-patio off the
side screened porch. This vertical
ly slashed fence provides privacy
for Mrs. Bowen blocking her effec-
lively from pasSersby. Combined
with the porch the patio makes
a perfect setting for parties.
The shedroof rises to a cathedral
slope from the porch to the living
room. Cypress-beamed ii lends
dignity to the porch living room,
rare in small house. Mindful of
those occasional brisk winter days,
Mrs. Bowen has contrived an in
genious ten-sectioned horizontal
suffered panel that closes off her
living room from the screened
porch.
Closed up these shutters. plus the
two shattered doors one leading to
porch and one to kitchen give a
snug, inside feeling. Her raised
fireplace and the warmth of the cy-
press beams can change the room
from cool summer one to a warm
winter one.
The porch floor is of specially
built Cuban tile. Walls are plain
stucco, peach on the porch, and
green in the living room.
An interesting effect has been or
tanned with the use of aqua glass
in the lalousies IN the living room.
Combined with the green walls. one
gets cool underwater feeling. I'M
der the waters of Key West. which
are unmatched in color anywhere.
The two bedrooms both have en-
frances on the living room. One
goes off from the dining alcove at
the west end of the large living
room. The other from the book
lined wall at the right of the en-
trance door.
A r00m-length through close 10
the highest point of the cathedral
ceiling holds indirect lights which
further dramatic the living room.
Modern electric kitchen with gar
bage disposal unit in the sink. a
pink tiled bathroom with real
bathtub and other Unitarian fea.
lures have beer devised TO make
Mrs. Bowen's housekeeping and
cleaning problem a simple one.
The rental unit or the second
floor of the house IS reached by an
outside staircase running unob.
trusiVely up the north side Of the
house. This apartment has two
bedrooms, living room, dining
room. On the second story with
our exposures il catches any bree-
yes prevailing at all times.
handspring the property is Just
beginning. An ardent gardener.
Mrs, Bowen Is looking forward 10
planting the tropical trees, vines
and flowers she loves so sell. She
hopes 70 drspe the side Of her car.
porte with bourainv.liea Palms.
poinciana. poinseftla and other
trees and plants viii srrr in the
black soil which she IL having
placed on top Of the mari.
Thick insulation keeps heat and
dampness out Windows xtrategi.
cailg arranged bring in The breexe
Ire house at 1890 FIRST street Is a
fire example nj The best there IS
IN Key West climate eIth me hest
there IS IN ANAL house architec-