Taylor Hardwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taylor Hardwick
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Taylor Hardwick in 2008
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| Born | July 15, 1925 |
| Died | September 27, 2014 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Louise Russell (1950-1977; divorced) Gay Leslie Mackendrick (1977-2006; her death) Jo Holland Alexander (2008- 2014; his death) |
| Children | Marjory Wells (born 1953) Taylor Junior (1954-2004) |
| Parent(s) | Marjorie & Gordon Hardwick |
| Awards | House & Home Award of Merit Florida AIA Design Honor Award H.J. Klutho Lifetime achievement Award |
| Practice | Hardwick & Lee |
| Buildings | Haydon Burns Library |
| Projects | Friendship Park The 1661 Building The Fletcher Building |
Taylor Hardwick (born July 15, 1925 – died September 27, 2014) was an American architect. He was also an interior designer, filmmaker, and teacher. Taylor Hardwick designed many buildings in northeast Florida, especially around Jacksonville.
He was a very creative person. His photographs were shown in many art exhibits. He also made fourteen films. He taught about color theory at Jacksonville University. In 1959, he opened Jacksonville's first modern furniture store, called The Atrium. He also helped start the Group Gallery in 1962. This was the first art space in Jacksonville to show modern art.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Taylor Hardwick was born in 1925 in Philadelphia. He grew up in the suburbs of the city. He was the third of four children. His parents were Marjorie and Gordon Hardwick. His father worked in insurance.
Taylor finished high school in 1943. He then went to the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. He earned two degrees there by 1947. He studied architecture and learned how to design buildings.
After college, he married Louise Russell. They had two children, Marjory Wells and Taylor Junior. Later, he married Gay Leslie Mackendrick, and then Jo Holland Alexander.
Designing a Career
Hardwick moved to Jacksonville in 1949. He worked for another architecture firm for three years. In 1952, he started his own design business. He partnered with architect W. Mayberry Lee. Their company was called Hardwick & Lee Architects.
They worked together until late 1968. After that, Taylor Hardwick worked on his own. He retired in 2001. During his 50-year career, he designed many different types of buildings. These included over 150 custom houses. He also designed five high schools and five elementary schools. He even designed a classroom building at the University of Florida.
Hardwick & Lee also designed many commercial buildings. One example is the Fletcher Building in Riverside. Their work often used a style called Mid-Century modern. This style was popular in the middle of the 20th century.
Creative Design Choices
Hardwick and Lee liked to try new things. They used different building methods. They also used unique visual ideas. They always wanted to innovate and avoid repeating themselves.
In the 1950s, they designed homes and small businesses. They often used roofs that were almost flat. They also used brick and wood patterns on walls. Some of their designs were inspired by famous artists.
From the late 1950s to the 1960s, color became very important in their work. Roofs during this time often had interesting zig-zag shapes. In 1965, they finished two of their biggest projects. These were Friendship Park and Fountain and the Haydon Burns Library.
Even when working alone, Hardwick used strong lines and angles. This was in the 1970s and 1980s. He started using more natural wood and softer colors. He also found ways to design buildings for Florida's wet areas. Some buildings were built on stilts. Others were even designed to float.
Key Projects in Jacksonville
Haydon Burns Library
The Haydon Burns Library was built in 1965. It cost $3.7 million and was very modern for its time. Taylor Hardwick designed the three-story building. It was about 126,000 square feet.
Hardwick and the library team visited other libraries. They wanted to find the best ideas for Jacksonville's new library. Hardwick worked on the design for five years. He chose all the furniture and even the signs inside. He used bright colors and limited natural light.
The library served Jacksonville for many years. But by the 1990s, it became too small. The Haydon Burns Library closed in 2005. A new, larger library was built. The old building was later sold to a private owner. Taylor Hardwick was happy that the outside of the building would stay mostly the same.
Friendship Fountain and Park
Friendship Fountain is a famous landmark in Jacksonville. It is located on the Southbank Riverwalk. The fountain and park opened in March 1965. It was called the "World's Tallest and Largest" fountain. It quickly became a popular place for tourists.
The entire 14-acre park and fountain cost $1,750,000 to build. The land was given by local business people. The fountain's water streams could be seen from far away. Three powerful pumps pushed 17,000 gallons of water per minute. Some streams reached as high as a 10-story building. Hardwick designed the pump building to be part of the park's look.
The fountain worked for over 20 years. It was repaired in 1985 and worked for another 15 years. But by the early 2000s, it needed major repairs. In 2001, a big renovation project began. New features were added. The fountain was a major attraction during Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.
However, two of the original pumps broke soon after. Replacing them was very expensive. For a while, the fountain ran on only one pump. This greatly reduced its water flow. People wondered what would happen to this Jacksonville landmark.
In 2011, the city decided to restore the fountain. A local company, Delta Fountains, did the work. The project took a year. It added new features and a new light and water show. A German company, Hansgrohe, even featured Friendship Fountain in its ads. They wanted to show the importance of preserving this work of art.
Skinner Dairy Stores
In 1958, Hardwick designed the retail buildings for Skinner Dairy. These were like early versions of today's convenience stores. Skinner's Milk Houses were unique and eye-catching. They became a common sight around Jacksonville.
Each store had a special "butterfly" roof. They were painted orange and white. They also had a drive-through that cars could use from two sides. They even used modern aluminum sliding glass doors. The dairy company was sold in 1996.
Many of these buildings still exist today. Most still have their special roofs. They have been used for many different businesses. These include restaurants, car washes, and coffee shops. This shows how well Hardwick's designs could be adapted.
Exhibitions and Recognition
Taylor Hardwick's work was celebrated in an exhibition. It was called "Taylor Hardwick: 50 Years of Design." It was held at the University of North Florida in 2003.
In 2008, a conference was held about modern architecture in Florida. It looked at the work of Hardwick and other architects. The University of North Florida also made a film about Hardwick's career.
Later Life and Legacy
Hardwick retired in 2001. He spent his later years writing his memoirs. He also tried to save buildings he designed from being torn down. Many of his creations have been demolished or changed. For example, his Friendship Fountain Park was made smaller in 1985.
He tried to save the 1661 Riverside Avenue Medical Building. But it was torn down in 2004 to build new homes. Before it was demolished, a special day honored Hardwick's designs. Taylor Hardwick passed away from cancer on September 27, 2014, at age 89.
Awards and Honors
Taylor Hardwick and his firm received several awards. These include:
- The House and Home Award of Merit in 1956.
- The Florida AIA Design Honor Award in 1964.
- The H.J. Klutho Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.
He was also named an Emeritus member of the American Institute of Architects.
See also
- Architecture of Jacksonville
Images for kids
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Taylor Hardwick in 2008
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Haydon Burns Library in Jacksonville, ca. 1968
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The original Friendship Fountain and Park
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The fountain at night with one pump
