El Jardín

At the historic El Jardín on the campus of Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Coconut Grove, preservation is in the details. Designed in 1918 by renowned architect Richard Kiehnel as a private winter residence for Pittsburgh industrialist John Bindley, the Mediterranean Revival estate later became part of the school in 1961. Today, it stands as a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, where history and education continue to intersect.

Central to its timeless character is the iconic mission tile roof. Restoring this 10,200-square-foot landmark required more than simple replacement. It demanded absolute fidelity to the original 1918 design. Our team rose to the challenge by installing Ludowici mission barrel tiles in a rare custom seven-color blend, a level of customization Ludowici has not undertaken in over seven years.

The biggest hurdle? Perfectly mixing the precise percentages of each color to recreate the natural, varied patina of the century-old roof. Through meticulous planning, deliberate layout, and expert installation, the new roof avoids modern uniformity while honoring the authentic, weathered beauty of the original. The result is a seamless restoration that preserves the estate's historic integrity for generations to come.