Villager Support Launches New Book Celebrating Architecture of Coral Gables

The new book Coral Gables, a part of the Coffee Table Journeys Collection, by author-illustrator José Gelabert-Navia will be unveiled at a reception and book signing event on November 7 at the Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Avenue. The free event is open to the public and will be held from 6:30-8:30 PM, during which the author will give a short presentation followed by the book signing. Books will be available for sale.

A practicing architect with the firm Perkins + Will, Gelabert-Navia is a professor and former Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Miami. His teaching focus has been in the areas of architectural design and the related history of colonialism and globalization.

“The Villagers are delighted to be instrumental in bringing this book to the public,” said Susan Medina, Past President of The Villagers. “Professor Gelabert-Navia’s work will help immortalize and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of George Merrick’s architectural team who began building Coral Gables 100 years ago.”

According to Professor Gelabert-Navia, most of the illustrations included “are the original monuments Merrick did in his time.” A resident of Coral Gables for more than 30 years, he selected the sites he felt were more iconic.