The ICAA is pleased to partner with Classical Excursions to present this exceptional tour highlighting the architecture of Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, and Seaside, Florida. Alys Beach, Seaside and Rosemary Beach are three examples of a style of urban planning known as New Urbanism.
Alys Beach is a planned community in Walton County on the Gulf Coast. The master plan was created by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (now called DPZ CoDesign), with Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt serving as town architects. The design vision of Alys Beach was based on Moorish and Mediterranean villages and architectural styles of Bermuda. The courtyard's design was inspired by homes in Antigua and Guatemala. The Alys Beach community is constructed following the Fortified for Safer Living. Alys Beach has been compared to a Greek Island as all of the houses are required to have a white color.
Seaside community was first constructed in 1981. The idea behind Seaside came in 1946, when the grandfather of future founder Robert S. Davis bought 80 acres of land along the shore of Northwest Florida as a summer retreat for his family. In 1978, Davis inherited the parcel from his grandfather and aimed to transform it into an old-fashioned beach town, with traditional wood-framed cottages of the Florida Panhandle. Davis, his wife Daryl, and the architectural partners Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company toured the south studying small towns as a basis for planning Seaside.
Rosemary Beach is developed on land originally part of the older Inlet Beach neighborhood. The town was founded in 1995 by Patrick D. Bienvenue, and was designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. The town is approximately 105 acres and, upon completion, includes more than 400 home sites and a mixed-use town center with shops, restaurants, activities and green spaces. The design of the town reflects New Orleans’ French Quarter, Charleston in South Carolina, St. Augustine, Florida and other European Colonial influences from the West Indies and Caribbean. Sustainable materials, natural color palettes, high ceilings for better air circulation, balconies, and easy access to the beach by foot are typical design features.
This tour is arranged by Classical Excursions. Please note, that you must contact Classical Excursions’ Director, Lani Summerville to formally register for this program. Upon completing a registration form, submitting a deposit to Classical Excursions, and receiving a confirmation from Classical Excursions you will be considered registered for this program. Payment of the $600 donation to the ICAA prior to registration does not guarantee placement on the trip. Again, to inquire about registration for this program, please contact Lani Summerville at [email protected] or 413-446-8728.
A fully tax-deductible donation of $600 per person is required to participate in this travel program. Please note that this donation is non-refundable except in the case that this travel program is cancelled by the organization. All travel program participants have the opportunity to receive a complimentary Individual level membership for one year to the ICAA.
The program will begin with self-guided arrival and check-in at The WaterColor Inn, located at 34 Goldenrod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, FL. We gather this first evening for a Welcome Dinner. The WaterColor Inn is a new boutique hotel opened in 2021. Overlooking the super sands of Santa Rosa Beach, just a short distance from Alys Beach, Seaside and Rosemary Beach communities. The resort hotel is situated in a 500-acre community, tucked between the Gulf of Mexico and a coastal dune lake framed by a longleaf pine forest. Thoughtfully designed by architect David Rockwell, the Inn seamlessly marries the laid-back comfort of a classic beach house with the modern perks and indulgences of a luxury boutique hotel. All rooms overlook the natural coastal sand dunes of the beaches. Rooms located on higher floors feature views of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The group will enjoy a tour of Kaiya with drinks at the Beach Club, hosted by Tim Johnson and Fernando Wong, who also did the landscape architecture for the community.
The second day of the tour will explore Alys Beach, with a presentation by town architects Marieanne Khoury Vogt and Erik Vogt with tours of homes by leading designers such as McAlpine architects, Jeffrey Dungan and more.
The group will enjoy a full day touring Seaside, with a presentation by Founder Robert Davis along with Gary Brewer, including visits to homes and public buildings by RAMSA, Ernesto Buch, and Scott Merrill.
In Seaside, the group will visit a small classical award-winning house that takes its inspiration from Swedish Gustavian architecture. This three-story house is wisely planned as both a summer and full-time residence with wonderful exterior and interior detailing. The interior design and landscape design was also part of the entire house’s design vision.
The tour includes a morning visit to Rosemary Beach, with architecture by Merrill Pastor & Colgan, among others.
The tour includes a visit to Tupelo Beach Street Pavilion, which was completed by Ernesto Buch, a 2018 Seaside Prize Winner.
If you would like to register, you may contact the travel operator organizing the program. Please note that a $500 donation per person to the ICAA is required in order to participate in each travel program.
Your $600 donation helps to further the ICAA’s goal of advancing the practice and appreciation of the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts by supporting its varied educational programs, including continuing education courses, college workshops, the Summer Studio in Classical Architecture, New Heights, and many more.
Yes, a donation of $600 to the ICAA is required for each travel program you register for. The donation is required for each person attending a tour.
You can make your $600 donation to the ICAA online, or you can download, complete, and mail this form to the ICAA. You can alternatively fax a copy to 212-730-9649. You may also call 212-730-9646 x111 or email [email protected] to make a donation. Donations must be made separately from the registration fee.
No, membership is not required to attend an ICAA travel program. However, complimentary Individual membership to the ICAA is included with your $600 required donation.
For full itinerary and more information, contact [email protected], 413-446-8728. Due to the exclusive nature of our tours, some private locations or visits may be omitted from the ICAA's website.
Over the past several years, the ICAA has travelled to destinations including Paris; Andalusia; Atlanta; Barbados; South Africa; Chicago; the Netherlands and Belgium; Scotland; the French Riviera; Morocco; the Italian Lake Region; Charlottesville; Naples; and New Delhi, among many other locations. The ICAA is always looking to diversify its travel offerings. If you have a suggestion or location you would like to see added, please email [email protected].