Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE CONCH CASTLES OF KEY WEST
Miami this, Miami that; yes, the flashy overstatement of the Magic City's architecture
sure is beautiful. But what about Key West? Plenty of gorgeous historical buildings are
packed into an easily walkable space and happen to be located on one of the prettiest is-
lands in America. What are we waiting for?
Traditional Keys homes are known as 'Conch houses' for the conch shell that was used
as a building material to supplement the traditionally low amounts of stone and wood;
today the nickname also references Keys natives, known as Conchs. Conch houses are
perhaps the finest example of Caribbean colonial architecture in the US outside New Or-
leans. They're elegant, recognizably European homes, and while no two dwellings are
identical, there are some commonalities across the board. Shuttered windows, wrap-
around verandas, sloped roofs and structures built on raised piers - these are all ele-
ments that maximized shade and airflow in an era that preceded air-conditioning.
Many Conch houses had fallen into states of total disrepair in the early 20th century,
but as in South Beach, a community of artists, gays and lesbians established themselves
here, refurbished the neighborhood and saved a bit of American heritage, all the while
giving Key West the distinctive aesthetic profile that adds so much to its tourism appeal.
You can see plenty of Conch houses in the Key West historic district (the west end of the
island); to see a particularly fine assortment in a small space, walk the four blocks along
Eaton St from Eaton and William to Eaton and Whitehead.
The deco movement came about in the early 20th century, when affordable travel became
a reality for many. Sea journeys represented the height of luxury, and many deco build-
ings are decorated with nautical porthole windows.
