1221 North Lake Way was built in 1940 and designed by Belford Shoumate who was the most popular architect of Modernism on the island of Palm Beach. Designed as a 6,000 SF ‘Nautical Mansion’ the ‘Fore and Aft House’ was featured in the 1939 World’s Fair as one of the Houses of Tomorrow. That fair had a lasting influence on American Architecture. Following Art Deco, the International Style of Architecture grew out of a fascination with industrial design and speed, particularly, automobiles, trains, boats and planes. The southern elevation of the 1221 has concrete porthole columns that repeat along the windowed curtain wall and the upper decks feature steamship railings. The extreme right of the house (eastern elevation) has a 2-car Y shaped garage with 2 exits. The Extreme left side (west) features the musical-key note pool overlooking the Intracoastal view, thus The Fore and Aft house. The house sits on 65 feet of Intracoastal frontage offering stunning views and amazing sunsets as well as a deep-water dock. The nautical-like design has the effect of a boat, sitting on the lot overlooking the Intracoastal. Equally important, 1221 is the only Lakefront house in Palm Beach with its own deeded Oceanfront cabana down the block. Most original details remain, including some custom furnishings. 'Fore and Aft' was designed with 4 bedrooms with exterior doors to enter and exit the exterior decks, not unlike steamships of the day. Many of the original bathroom details remain and missing elements could be found or restored.
