Research
Bermudian Influences of John L. Volk's Palm Beach Residences
Principal Investigator
Dr. Vandana Baweja
Department
Architecture
Affiliated with project since May 2025
Research Focus
This project explores the work of architect John L. Volk in the Palm Beach, Florida area. Volk is well known for his extensive contributions to residential house designs around West Palm Beach, taking influences from several architectural styles. These include Spanish, Georgian Revival, and Colonial. However, his works in the Bermudian style are exceptionally recognized for their visual appeal and functionality. The goal of this project is to investigate how Volk integrated the Bermudian style into his residential designs of the early 20th century, and how these features contributed to the long-lasting nature of these houses. This is done through the analysis of architectural drawings and field work.
Responsibilities
As a student working on this project, responsibilities include obtaining and analyzing architectural drawings and documents from the Palm Beach Preservation archives, conducting field work with the studied houses, and finding connections between the original Bermudian style and Volk's designs. These tasks involve extensive documentation, organization, and critical analysis skills.