Casa Feliz

Casa Feliz has long been recognized as the finest of James Gamble Rogers II’s residential works playing a significant role in the architectural and cultural contexts of Winter Park. Commissioned by Robert Barbour in 1921, the house was modeled by Rogers after an Andalusian cortijo or Spanish courtyard farmhouse, although the architectural style of the house is best described as Spanish Eclectic, since it incorporates authentic Spanish details with a mix of elements inspired by other Mediterranean styles. The house is organized around an interior courtyard and surrounded by a series of rectangular interior living spaces on all four sides. This type of “open court” is a common element of residential design throughout the Mediterranean. Spanish architectural details evident in the design include the pointed arch, rounded turret, heavy timber balcony, bell tower and broken brick arches.

When the home was threatened with demolition, RLF, led by Jack Rogers, quickly organized a core group of citizens to save the structure and create a historic home museum within the Winter Park community. The “Friends of Casa Feliz” worked with community leaders to raise more than $1,000,000 to move the home and restore it to its original 1943 condition. The historic home was recently added to the National Register of Historical Places.

Today, Casa Feliz serves the Winter Park community as a historic home museum and rental location for private parties, weddings and business events.