F. Burrall Hoffman facts for kids

F. Burrall Hoffman, Jr. (born March 6, 1882 – died November 27, 1980) was an American architect. He is most famous for designing Villa Vizcaya in Miami, Florida, for James Deering.

About F. Burrall Hoffman, Jr.

Francis Burrall Hoffman, Jr. came from a rich family in New York. His family had been important in politics for many years. For example, his great-grandfather was a judge. His grandfather was a U.S. Minister to Denmark.

Hoffman went to Harvard College. He finished his degree in 1902. He spent a year learning at a famous architecture company called Carrère and Hastings. From 1903 to 1907, Hoffman studied architecture in Paris. He went to a well-known school called the École des Beaux-Arts. He graduated with high honors. After that, he returned to work at Carrère and Hastings.

In 1910, Hoffman started his own architecture business. His office was in Manhattan, New York. He sometimes worked with another architect, Harry Creighton Ingalls.

Hoffman's Military Service

In 1917, Hoffman stopped his work on Villa Vizcaya. He joined the Army during World War I. He was a Captain in the Corps of Engineers. He also helped with camouflage operations. Later, during World War II, Hoffman served in the Navy. He was a Lieutenant Commander.

Life After the Wars

In 1927, Hoffman married Virginia "Dolly" Kimball in Paris. Dolly was from a wealthy family too. She became an interior decorator. She often helped design her husband's projects.

After the stock market crash in 1929, Hoffman closed his New York office. He and Dolly traveled a lot between New York and Paris. When he returned to New York, he took on fewer projects. He usually worked on only one building a year.

Hoffman designed many buildings. Most of them were large homes for rich clients. His last project was finished in 1974. He was almost 98 years old then. F. Burrall Hoffman, Jr. passed away in 1980 in Hobe Sound, Florida.

Designing Villa Vizcaya

Hoffman's biggest and most famous project was Villa Vizcaya. This grand home was built for James Deering in Miami, Florida. Hoffman got this job through his connections from Harvard.

James Deering was a very rich businessman. He and his art director, Paul Chalfin, spent three years in Europe. They collected many old building parts and art pieces. In 1912, Deering hired Hoffman to design his winter home. This home would show off Deering's large collection.

Deering bought a big piece of land in Miami. It was 130 acres of swampy land by Biscayne Bay. Hoffman started drawing plans for the house in 1913. Deering and Chalfin wanted an Italian-style villa. They were inspired by a villa in Italy called Villa Rezzonico.

Hoffman designed a nearly square building. It had two main pathways that crossed in the middle. The main path went from the entrance through a courtyard to the waterside terrace. The smaller path led to the gardens. Hoffman cleverly designed the main rooms in a U-shape. This helped guide guests from one area to another. It also gave the living and dining rooms direct access to the terrace by the water.

Hoffman worked with Paul Chalfin until 1916. After that, Chalfin took over the project to furnish the house. James Deering arrived at Villa Vizcaya on Christmas Day, 1916. He spent his winters there until he died in 1925.

Getting Credit for Vizcaya

In 1917, an article about Vizcaya was published. It called Chalfin and Hoffman "associate architects." But it did not mention the garden designer, Diego Suarez. Hoffman was upset about this. He never spoke to Chalfin again.

Later, in 1953, Dade County bought Vizcaya. The New York Times published an article about it. This article gave all the credit for Vizcaya's design to Paul Chalfin. It only mentioned Hoffman for the plumbing! Hoffman had ignored Chalfin's claims for 35 years. But this time, he decided to take action. He met with a lawyer and planned to sue. The Times then published a correction on May 17, 1953. This correction gave Hoffman proper credit for his work.

Other Notable Works

Hoffman started his architecture business in 1910. He worked until 1974. He designed many different types of buildings. Most of his projects were large homes for wealthy people. These homes were mainly in New York and Florida.

Here are some of his important projects:

• Mausoleum for Edmund Walstein Davis at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York (1908).
• Municipal Building for the Village of Southampton, New York (1911).
• Little Theater in New York City (1911, with Harry Creighton Ingalls).
• St. Ann's Church in Lenox, Massachusetts (1912).
• Ballyshear: a house and gardens for Charles B. Macdonald in Southampton, New York (1913).
• The Neighborhood Theater in New York City (1915, with Harry Creighton Ingalls).
• Church of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Bridgehampton, New York (1915).
• St. Brigid Catholic Church in Westbury, New York (1916).
• Villa Artemis: a house for Amy Phipps Guest in West Palm Beach, Florida (1916).
• Heamaw: a house for Henry Carnegie Phipps in West Palm Beach, Florida (1916).
• Elizabethan playhouse for Mrs. Lorenzo E. Woodhouse, East Hampton, New York (1917).
• Townhouse for Charlotte Winthrop Fowler in New York City (1919).

After 1929, Hoffman closed his New York office. He still completed some projects:

• Addition to Al Poniente in Palm Beach, Florida (by 1920).
• Dibble Memorial Library in Aiken, South Carolina (1926).
• Apartment building at 136 East 79th Street, New York City (1928).
• Apartment building at 4 East 72nd Street, New York City (1929).
• Apartment building at 730 Park Avenue, New York City (1929).
• Ranch house for Mr. & Mrs. Henry Potter Russell, Carmel Valley, California (1929).
• St. Brigid Church in Peapack, New Jersey (around 1936).
• Residence for Clarence Dillon in Montego Bay, Jamaica (1954).