Palm Beach Style - by Jane S Day (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Palm Beach style is the expression of elegance and romance everywhere evident in this paradise and epitomized in the lives and work of architect John Volk and artist-preservationist Jane Volk. Together they conjured up much of the magic that now makes the place. The book explores this unique chemistry and the dazzling homes that are the result.

John Volk was one of the "big five" architects of Palm Beach. It was here, during his sixty years of practice, that he was commissioned to design over 2,000 projects, among them the Royal Poinciana Plaza as well as additions and renovations to the Everglades Club. This book is about the Volks, and the part they played in conjuring the spell with which Palm Beach continues to enchant.

Palm Beach, among other things, is its architecture. Red tile roofs and cast stone columns hint of the Mediterranean. Evidence of inspirations from Spain and Morocco abound. After the economic collapse of 1929, the classical architectural orders began to appear on columns and porticos. The Bermuda style and Modernism made an appearance later. Yet there is no one style exclusively associated Volk; here he perfected many styles and his architectural legacy can be found on almost every street.

While this book honors John Volk's architecture and his enormous impact, it also celebrates Jane Volk's contribution to Palm Beach and her devotion to protecting the town and its historic character.

Review Quotes

"John Volk was one of the "big five" architects of Palm Beach, who designed over 2,000 projects, among them the Royal Poinciana Plaza and the Everglades Club." --HOUSE & HOME

"How did Palm Beach get its distinctive look? There's no one correct answer--except, perhaps, John and Jane Volk. This new book celebrates the style that the architect and preservationist helped champion in the tony Florida enclave, and explores how their shared passion helped influence the way money looks for generations to come." --TOWN AND COUNTRY

"Whilethe book honors Volk's architecture and his enormous impact, italso celebrates his wife's contribution to Palm Beach and herdevotion to protecting the town and its historic character. Duringhis career, John Volk was commissioned to design over 2,000projects, among them the Royal Poinciana Plaza and additionsand renovations to the Everglades Club." --DUJOUR

"In her new book Palm Beach Style: The Architecture and Advocacy of John and Jane Volk, Jane S. Day explores--through glamorous visuals--the "love story" of architect John Volk and his artist-preservationist wife, Jane, whose work on the Royal Poinciana Plaza, the additions and renovations to the Everglades Club, and numerous examples of inimitably elegant design and devotion to historic preservation is so resonant throughout the Volk's home of Palm Beach that it can still be felt on almost every street in town." --PALMER PB

About the Author

Jane S. Day is an historian and preservationist and author of Rizzoli's From Palm Beach to Shangri La: The Architecture of Marion Sims Wyeth.
The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation of the architectural and cultural heritage of Palm Beach, Florida.