El Jardin

El Jardin is a Mediterranean Revival house in Miami defined by stone walls, ornate details, and architectural elements typical of this design style. The property sits on an oolitic limestone ridge overlooking Biscayne Bay and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.

The house was built in 1917 as a winter residence for the president of Pittsburgh Steel Company and stands as the first Mediterranean Revival structure in Miami. This marked the beginning of an architectural movement that would shape the city's development for decades to come.

The house reflects how Mediterranean design influenced Florida's residential buildings in the early 1900s, visible today in its decorative stonework and ornamental details. The style shaped how many wealthy residents chose to build their homes during this period.

The building is now part of the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and is not typically open for regular visitor tours. You can admire the exterior features and architectural details of the facade from the street as you pass by the school grounds.

The house sits on a natural oolitic limestone ridge that forms its foundation and overlooks Biscayne Bay. This integration with local geology shows how early developers incorporated natural features directly into their architectural designs.