I’ve always been drawn to whimsical and oddball creations. Taking the course Better Homes & Gardens opened my eyes to the world of artist-built environments. These spaces perfectly capture the question, “what if the building material itself was art?,” and I have been exploring that ever since. Being from Florida, I have an interest in southern and Florida-based art environments and their interplay with tourism, folk practices, and the natural landscape.
Howard Solomon in front of Solomon's Castle
Howard bought the property in 1972 and worked endlessly until he passed in 2016.
Solomon's Castle and the Boat in the Moat Restaurant
Visitors can enjoy a home-cooked meal at the Boat in the Moat after a tour around the Castle.
Vintage Cars in front of Solomon's Castle
Howard was an avid collector of antique cars and always welcomed visitors to park their hotrods out front when they visited. This tradition is continued by Alane and Dean today.
Stained Glass Window from Boat in the Moat Restaurant
Howard would have friends or family create his stained-glass window designs, but he would craft and install them in place.
Artist-built environments are personal spaces like homes or gardens that have been fully transformed into continually evolving and life-encompassing, site-specific works of art. These spaces emerge as local cultural hubs and unique heritage tourism destinations, yet they often fall outside the world of traditional preservation. One case is Solomon’s Castle in Ona, Florida. Here in 1972, Howard Solomon worked on his home until his death in 2016. In the midst of a Florida swamp, he built a 12,000 square foot, 3-story castle complete with turrets, stained-glass windows, and a complete exterior siding of recycled offset aluminum printing plates.
Today the Castle is run and maintained by Howard’s daughter Alane, her husband, and three generations of Solomons. They run the (incredibly punny) tours, man the gift shop, and serve customers at the Boat in the Moat restaurant next to the Castle. This project wouldn’t be made possible without the love, care, and dedication this family has poured into their home. I want to especially thank Alane and Dean who were both incredibly kind and welcoming when I shared my project with them.
Check out the Castle: http://solomonscastle.com/
Learn more about artist-built environments: https://spacesarchives.org/