Special offer

Famous Architect, Wahl Snyder's home in Miami Shores - recently sold

By
Real Estate Agent with Majestic Properties 3061802

I have to tell you about an incredible property that just SOLD in Miami Shores for $1,020,000.  Historians, Architects, Builders and everyone with a slight interest in design and history should be interested in this single property and I will tell you why.

First I need to disclose that it was not our listing, and that's why I can be so objective about this home's importance.  This home was designed by Wahl Snyder, one of the most important architects to bring modern architecture to South Florida. "Wahl Snyder is renowned as the architect who introduced the split-level house (1939) and townhouse designs (1964) to the Miami area. Snyder's architectural hallmark was a keen interest in bringing the outside world into a house's living space. Many of his designs feature open garden spaces within the building's frame, outdoor patios which seamlessly blend into interior space and large overhanging roofs which shade the building, allowing doors and windows to remain open. Even as air conditioning freed architects to isolate buildings completely from the elements, Snyder continued to make the outdoors an integral part of his designs, never forgetting climate's central importance to Florida and Caribbean life" Not only was this home designed by Wahl Snyder, but it was his own personal residence in Miami Shores.

Wahl Snyder's Residence Dining Room

The home was built in 1947 and has approximately 3,200 square feet of living space, 1,200 square feet of covered exterior patio, 1,200 square feet of garage/workshop, 4 car garage, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and sits on an 18,750 square foot lot.  It has a formal living area with wood-burning fireplace, gourmet kitchen with commercial grade appliances, eat-in area overlooking garden and formal dining room.  It's the perfect example of Snyder blending interior and outdoor spaces where the Living and Bedroom areas surround the expansive exterior living room which features built-in seating areas, large pool and outdoor kitchen.

living room Living room

Although the house has had some changes through the years like the relocation of the kitchen and expansion of garage areas, the home still features original materials and features so popular with Snyder:  brick - concrete- clerestory lighting- sliding doors- built-in seating - and more.

kitchen porch

Other known buildings designed by Wahl Snyder include the Neville McArthur Engineering Building at the University of MiamiMiami Carol City High School, Coral Park Elementary School, townhouse developments for Lake Buena Vista and Hollywood to name a few.

For more information about this home in Miami Shores as well as other architecturally relevant homes, please contact RICK & INES at www.miamism.com

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Comments(24)

Kelly Mitchell
The Wine Siren & Agent Caffeine - Napa, CA
TheWineSiren.com Food | Wine | Fab *Napa Valley
Hi Ines,  What a gorgeous listing!  Congratulations. Love the kitchen espcially. 
Jan 04, 2007 07:22 PM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

Hi Kelly - it's not our listing, it's one of those "important homes" on the market right now, but thanks.

Ines

Jan 05, 2007 12:02 AM
Nick M.
Certified Residential Appraiser- West Palm Beach Real Estate - West Palm Beach, FL
Realtor-Appraiser in West Palm-South Florida Real Estate Appraiser

hi Ines.. did you find my 10 room, er uh, 13 room house? hee heeeee.. 
I'm no interior designer, but I would like to see this house with wood furniture that is log cabin style. We rock it in Bariloche with the tree trunks sliced longways to make cabinet doors, tree trucks to make the pillars and even the entire chair or table leg.  But then again that's just me.  --see ya! 

Jan 05, 2007 12:18 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

Nick - I'm still working on your 14 room house - the closest I came to was 10 bedrooms in Star Island, it does have a helipad for your shiny red helicopter.

I love the log furniture, but not in this house - I see designer pieces like Barcelona Chairs...But then again, that's just me.

Jan 05, 2007 12:32 AM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Ines, I bet the owner wishes you "were" the listing agent with a write up like that! Wht a house!

Jan 05, 2007 08:05 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Thank you Karen - I must say that there's nothing like an architect to sell another architect's house.
Jan 05, 2007 10:19 AM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker
I thought you were going to tell us this was YOUR house???
Jan 05, 2007 06:38 PM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
If I could put the kids in the garage, it would be my house :)
Jan 06, 2007 03:00 AM
Melissa Kruse
Gryphon - Lewis Center, OH
Wow, what a great house. And congrats for being back on the dashboard. You've been missed.
Jan 06, 2007 01:21 PM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Thank you Melissa - I appreciate that - I may not be there tomorrow though and THIS IS A GREAT HOUSE!  Anyone with an eye for restoration would have a field day.
Jan 06, 2007 01:35 PM
Dena Stevens
Rocky Mountain Realty - Canon City, CO
Putting The Real Into Realtor Since 2004
OK, it must be the difference in climate. What you are telling us is that where the BBQ and bar stools are is an exterior room? Here in Colorado we would do the opposite. We would open up the house to the outside, not enclose the exterior patio to make it feel like an interior room. Splitting hairs I guess.
Mar 20, 2007 11:15 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Dena, that was funny.  This architect created "transitional spaces" and would do external living areas which would lead to nature - a good blend between the outside and inside.  Remember that Miami is very humid, so the covered area is important as well as designing with wind direction in mind.  What was done by a later owner that is not true to the house was to screen in the pool area and totally obscure the blend of exterior and interior - I would do away with the screen in a heart beat!
Mar 20, 2007 02:27 PM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Snyder seems to have ideas in common with Frank Lloyd Wright, in blending inside and outside. The floor tiles in some of the rooms look '80s - any idea when what was done?  Poor sellers, I feel sorry for them - they don't have your talents and exposure working harder for them. You're already exposing their property, but if you were the listing agents....
Mar 30, 2007 11:07 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
Sharon - the house has been redone through the years and it does not have that "original" feels to it anymore.  I'm hoping the people that just bought it will realize it's importance and will restore it, starting with removing the screen enclosure by the pool area.  I would have enjoyed this listing, that's a fact.
Mar 30, 2007 03:15 PM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Ines - it's such a wonderful feeling when someone buys a historically significant home and really restores it. We've had a couple of those recently in St. Petersburg.
Mar 31, 2007 06:21 AM
David A. Podgursky PA
THE PODGURSKY GROUP @ Re/Max Direct - Boynton Beach, FL
THE PODGURSKY GROUP - Make the Right Move!

I want that house!

reminds me of the mature neighborhoods from back home!

Apr 02, 2007 02:26 AM
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

Sharon - I have restored a couple myself and they are such rewarding projects.  I really hope that the people who bought this also realize how important this home is.

David - the house is great and the lot is beautiful too - I don't know about "mature neighborhoods" but this is the father of the modern movement here in S. Florida.

Apr 02, 2007 03:39 PM
Anonymous
Ann B. Singleton

I am fortunate enough to live in a Wahl Snyder house that is not in the Carribean or in South Florida. I don't know of any other homes in Louisiana which he designed.

We live in Baton Rouge and have considered ourselves caretakers of the home which was built in 1956 as a showpiece home for the owner of Crawford Corporation. In a year or so we will put the house up for sale and wish people in our area knew what an important piece of architecture this is.

Feb 22, 2010 02:47 AM
#22
Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL

Lucky you Ann - please make sure whoever you list the house with is sensitive to architecturally relevant homes - especially if there are not many of the kind in Baton Rouge

Feb 22, 2010 03:03 AM
Anonymous
Beau Hampton

The Crawford homes in Highgate springs have the Wahl Snyder feel to them. Many of the same materials used to build the Hamilton Crawford's home in Baton Rouge are used in the homes in crawfords developments in New Orleans and Louisville.A noted use of a chipped marble pebble roof (Atomic Ranch 2006 summer issue). The homes in Highgate springs featured an award winning design that was on a brochure and Wahl Snyder won a design competition for affordable homes for returning G.I.s . 

Jun 08, 2011 09:26 AM
#24