Elegantly adapted to the proportions of the historic Spanish grid and the climate of Fernandina, the Las Casas homes are designed to be modern and traditional in form, function and detail. Every space within admits a free flow of air, space and light, making it easy and enjoyable to adjust the house to your mood and lifestyle. The simple, well ordered plans, combined with architectural devices such as louvered screens, and generous sliding glass doors, allow you to balance spaciousness with intimacy, sunlight with shadow, and interior rooms with landscape.

The design of each home employs the latest sustainable design practices such as sun-tempered design, natural ventilation, low maintenance materials and landscaping that protects the aquifer. Steeply pitched roofs, clad in durable seamed metal, reflect the heat of the sun and shed water rapidly during tropical storms. Exterior walls are constructed of solid block construction surfaced with traditional stucco complemented by wood siding protected with a warm, natural finish. Sun shading is provided by carefully located openings, vegetation and a system of wooden louvered screens.

The louvered screens are direct descendants of the "persianna" a traditional architectural element found throughout the Caribbean and Southern United States. Persiannas were reinterpreted by modern architects in Cuba in the 50’s, who sought to create houses that were both international and regional. Persiannas were also widely employed in modern houses in Miami, Ft. Meyers, Sarasota, and Jacksonville during the post-war years before air-conditioning was common. The persianna screens, combined with multiple exterior doors, maximize control of an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. With the louvers closed, the houses appear as elegant wooden forms that represent the desire for privacy or protection from the elements. Opening the louvers connects interior and exterior spaces for maximum view, ventilation and socializing.

The plan of each house is organized around a two-story living-dining space that is filled with light and air. The Someruelus Street model features a full balcony around this space that connects you to the upper bedroom suites. Optional built-in book shelves are tucked beneath the stair and line the north wall of the balcony above. The White Street model has a generous porch that wraps around the west and north sides of the two story living-dining space providing numerous places for solitude or socializing. On the second level, an interior sitting room overlooks the space below and provides a quiet spot for relaxation or work.

Hardwood floors are found throughout the social spaces and bedrooms of both houses with ceramic tile employed in the kitchen, bathrooms and work areas. Carefully detailed wood cabinets and casework extend the concept of modernity balanced by tradition into the interior. Appliances, hardware and other finishes are likewise chosen to complement this theme.

The exterior spaces of Las Casas support both social and private activities by blending Spanish and American design traditions. An intimate courtyard in the rear of each house gives you an indoor-outdoor experience while maintaining privacy in the manner of a Spanish house. The side yards are more spacious and open to the surrounding landscape following the American model. You can control the relationship of interior space to exterior space by opening and closing the doors and the louvered screens in different combinations.

Follow a Southern tradition of gathering around an exterior fireplace year for cooking, socializing or relaxing on the east deck of the Someruelus Street house. Find a quiet spot on the generous porches of the White Street house looking towards the horizon. The architecture of Las Casas connects your lifestyle to the climate and culture of historic Old Town.

William L. Tilson is Professor of Architecture and Director of the Preservation Institute: Caribbean at the University of Florida. He is a specialist in understanding the impact of modern architecture and development practices on rural and small seacoast communities. Due to his experience with historic communities in the Caribbean, Tilson was hired as a consultant by the City of Fernandina Beach, Florida where he developed the Historic Preservation and Design guidelines for the original settlement of Fernandina. Known as Old Town, the settlement received a National Heritage Historic District designation as the last town platted by the Spanish in the Western Hemisphere. Educated at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Tilson has taught at number of Universities throughout the US and worked for architects both here and abroad. He is also the Co-director of UF's Research and Education Center for Architectural Preservation (RECAP), a consortium that conducts funded research in preservation.