Addison Mizner, Visionary Architect

Every once in a while, special circumstances bring a group together for an unusual creative project. ADDISON MIZNER, Visionary Architect came about in just this way. The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach wanted an authoritative text to use in their Heritage Education Program as well as when talking about the history of the town to visitors and school groups. They could have made a brochure, but they realized that they needed more than this. Despite it being a much bigger undertaking, they decided to create a book that would be historically accurate but also engaging for readers of all ages. 

Robert Forbes was a natural choice for the text because he was already a published author who lives in Palm Beach, not to mention that he’s a member of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. He suggested Barbara McClintock for the elegance and whimsy that her illustrations could bring to the book. The result is remarkable. Filled with photographs alongside Barbara McClintock’s art, the book offers both a captivating story and a plethora of facts that invite the reader to take a deep dive into the man who created the look of Palm Beach.
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Below are some questions and responses that each of them gave about the book and the process of creating it.

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Barbara McClintock:

Q: What made you interested in the project in the first place?
A: I’m fascinated by stories about creative people. Both my parents were artistic - my mother was a textile
and design major in college; she was skilled in sewing intricately tailored clothing, and created her own
patterns from which she made most of her own clothing ( and most of the dresses for my sister and me ).

​My father was a professional portrait photographer; later in his career he switched to architectural photography. He loved talking about the special lenses he used to mitigated the extreme perspective lines that are problematic when photographing tall buildings. His interest in texture, lighting, pattern, detail, and historical constructs of buildings led me to a deep interest in drawing buildings in my illustration career.

My partner is an editorial illustrator. Many of my friends are artists, graphic designers, writers, musicians and people involved in movement through dance, qigong and martial arts. Nothing gives me joy as much as being part of a creative community, and celebrating the gifts that beauty brings to us all.

Q: What is your favorite fact about Addison Mizner?
A: That he had a life-long love of spider monkeys.

Q: What was your biggest challenge in creating the book?
A: There’s so much to say and show about Addison’s life! I wish I could make a book just about the scrapbooks of drawings and photos of the buildings, materials and influences he loved! He had such a far-ranging imagination and an ever-curious eye. And he was quite a character! He deserves a book the size of the Gutenberg Bible, but I must say Bob Forbes did a splendid job of reducing Addison’s amazing life into a handy-sized book!

Q: What was the most joyful part of creating the book?
A: Being part of Team Mizner - our crew who made this book possible. I miss our regular emails and meetings brainstorming about creating our marvelous book.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
A: As Frank Lloyd Write said about Addison; “Many architects had imagination but only Addison Mizner had the courage to let it out of the cage.” I hope our book inspires readers to do just that.

Q: Is there anything else you want to add or comment on?
A: I hope anyone holding this book in their hands knows all the love, inspiration, imagination and hard work that went into it’s creation. I’ve been privileged to work with the author Bob Forbes, designer Bob Kosturko, my every generous agent Jennie Dunham, Marie Penny and all the folks at the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. It’s been a blast!

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Bob Forbes:

Q: What made you interested in the project in the first place?
A; A friend of mine, Pauline Pitt, knew I was a children’s author and asked me if I would be interested in writing a biography of Addison Mizner. She was the former Board Chair of The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, and the book would be used for their popular 4th Grade Heritage Education Program with its emphasis on architecture. I was intrigued by the idea of writing a non-fiction book and I knew there was plenty of material on Mizner available, especially in Palm Beach, his hometown. I said yes, but it wasn’t until I started reading books on this multi-faceted man, visiting collections, and making copious notes, that I realized he was a big subject in more ways than one.

From my earlier writing I felt I had the right voice for the intended readers, but I soon found I was including too much material. After a few drafts and with help from an editor I’ve worked with in the past, the project began to come together nicely. I learned I had to make tough choices on what to include and what just wouldn’t fit.
 
Q: What is your favorite fact about Addison Mizner?
A: That for all the disappointments and hurdles life kept throwing at him, his growing passion for architecture never diminished. The vision of how he wanted to incorporate building styles he had seen in his travels burst forth when he met Paris Singer and moved to Palm Beach to build what became the Everglades Club, one of his greatest masterpieces. What he created was very much his own brand of architecture, and it took the world by storm. 
 
Q: What was your biggest challenge in creating the book?
A: I came to realize that writing non-fiction was for me a whole lot harder than writing fiction. But the challenge was made easier by the extraordinary character I was writing about.
 
Q: What was the most joyful part of creating the book?
A: By far the most joyful part was when Barbara McClintock said yes to doing the illustrations! I knew then the book would be a lovely adventure for its readers.
 
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
A: I hope they come away understanding that, like it was for Addison, life isn’t a straight path, but that by believing in yourself and working hard, you may just find your way; and like Addison, you need to keep going forward!
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Also, that readers come away aware of how Addison’s famous Mediterranean Revival style evolved and how he applied it so effectively for each client. In all his wanderings, he had accumulated vast hands-on knowledge that allowed him to make almost everything he needed to do every job, from roof tiles and ironwork details to furnishings to laying out the landscaping and gardens and always situating houses perfectly on the client’s property. I hope too that readers find the book a lively welcome into the world of a truly visionary architect.
 
Q: Is there anything else you want to add or comment on?
A: There is a fun story of Addison from his early travels where he ends up in Australia and finds himself in a boxing ring face-to-face with “The Pride of Australia.” It was a big match he was very much expected to lose. I won’t say any more; you’ll simply have to read the book to find out what happens!

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Amanda Skier, President & CEO and Marie Penny, Director of Archives - The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach

Q: What made you interested in the project in the first place?
A: The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach introduced its Heritage Education Program in 1987 to teach about the history of the region through the medium of local architecture.  When I was in the role of Director of Education several years ago, I dreamed of creating a children’s book about Addison Mizner. There has been so much written about him, but nothing targeted towards young readers. Our new publication Addison Mizner, Visionary Architect allows for students from all over Palm Beach County to learn about the development of the Mediterranean Revival style. -AS

Q: What is your favorite fact about Addison Mizner?
A: That he was an artisan in addition to being an architect. He didn’t just design his buildings, but he fabricated many of the materials and created spaces with strong historical precedents. -MP

Q: What was your biggest challenge in creating the book?
A; Addison seemed to have lived many lives. Fitting it all in to the book, while focusing on his trajectory as an architect was a challenge. However, we believe including all of Addison’s trials adds to the richness of the story. -MP

Q: What was the most joyful part of creating the book?
A:Robert Forbes creative vision steered this project, he introduced illustrator Barbara McClintock and graphic designer Robert Kosturko who brought his narrative to life. Watching this all unfold from my original concept was incredibly rewarding! -AS

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
A: Students will relate to the story of Addison, who has his own hero’s journey throughout his many travels and adventures. His story of overcoming hurdles such as his leg injury and finding a way to pursue his dreams is timeless. In addition, readers will learn about architecture as seen through the eyes of Addison, especially his early exposure to Mayan and Spanish Colonial architecture in Guatemala. -MP

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The book is not currently available in bookstores. Here’s a link below to purchase the book online from The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach: https://www.shoppalmbeachpreservation.org/products/addison-mizner-visionary-architect
 
Illustrations copyright © 2023 by Barbara McClintock