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A colorful residence majestically poses as part of the 100-year-old Chinese Village compound in Coral Gables.(Photo credit: REG)<\/p>\n
A colorful residence majestically poses as part of the 100-year-old Chinese Village compound in Coral Gables.
(Photo credit: REG)<\/p>\n
If you have driven along Riviera Drive, you probably have slowed down to look. Behind a low stucco wall, a cluster of homes with curved ceramic roof tiles, latticed balconies, and the unmistakable silhouette of classical Chinese architecture sits tucked into one of Coral Gables\u2019 quietest streets. They are the most photographed houses in Coral Gables.<\/p>\n
This is the Chinese Village \u2014 eight homes built in 1926 and 1927 as a unified compound, commissioned by George Merrick and designed by Yale architect Henry Killam Murphy. It turns 100 this year. And on Sunday, May 3, for one afternoon only, its doors opened to the public.<\/p>\n
The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables (HPACG) hosted a champagne soir\u00e9e fundraiser titled \u201cTwo Anniversaries One Extraordinary Afternoon in the Chinese Village\u201d to benefit historic preservation at a private residence, celebrating both the village\u2019s centennial and the organization\u2019s own 35th anniversary. Tickets were limited \u2014 a number that reflected the intimacy of the occasion as much as the scale of the space.<\/p>\n
The event featured a champagne reception, specialty bites by Atchana of Coconut Grove, floral arrangements by Belle Fleur and an exclusive tour of the home\u2019s main floor, followed by a lecture by a very special guest of honor.<\/p>\n
To begin the ceremony, an Official City of Coral Gables Proclamation recognizing \u201cMay 3, 2026 as Chinese Village Day\u201d was presented by Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson along with former mayors Dorothy Thomson and Don Slesnick.<\/p>\n
A neighborhood fixture few have seen up close
Henry Killam Murphy came to the Chinese Village project with unusual credentials. He had spent years practicing architecture in China, where he developed what he called Adaptive Architecture \u2014 a method of blending the forms and proportions of classical Chinese design with contemporary materials and construction. The results in Coral Gables are striking: a walled compound of homes joined by shared walls, each with sweeping tiled roofs, ornamental details, and a sense of enclosure that feels more Beijing hutong than anything you would expect to find in the continental United States.<\/p>\n
Only eight of the originally planned homes were ever completed. That they have survived intact for a century is something of a miracle.<\/p>\n
The scholar who wrote the book on it
Leading the afternoon\u2019s tour and lecture was Boyuan Zhang, AIA, a senior associate at Robert A. M. Stern Architects in New York and the foremost expert on Murphy\u2019s work. Zhang holds graduate degrees from both Yale and Tsinghua University and is a Henry Killam Murphy Scholar \u2014 his published research on the Chinese Village is considered the definitive account of how and why this improbable corner of Coral Gables came to exist.<\/p>\n
A Who\u2019s Who
The event guest list read as a \u201cWho\u2019s Who\u201d of architects, preservationists, community leaders and dignitaries including former city mayors and present elected officials.<\/p>\n
Additionally, past and present HPACG Board members attended, joining Michael Werner who served on the original 1991 board of directors. Werner also lives in one of the eight homes in the Village. Some guests traveled from as far away as Palm Beach excitedly to celebrate such important milestones hosted at an exceptionally rare and intact example of this unique style anywhere in the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for such a memorable and successful time in Coral Gables,\u201d said Boyuan Zhang, AIA, special guest speaker. \u201cIt was a real pleasure to spend time with each of you and to be part of such a wonderful gathering. I feel very fortunate to have met you all.\u201d<\/p>\n
About HPACG \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ABOUT US:<\/p>\n For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami\u2019s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami\u2019s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.<\/p>\n This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.<\/p>\n Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami\u2019s culture. Whether you\u2019re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami\u2019s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https:\/\/communitynewspapers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com<\/a> or Grant@communitynewspapers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1991, the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables is a 501(c)3 nonprofit promoting the understanding and preservation of Coral Gables\u2019 historic resources. Visit historiccoralgables.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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