Moderns That Matter

100 places that give Sarasota its character and distinct sense of place organized chronologically across 10 use categories.

Paul Rudolph - Single Family Residences

22A Hook Guest House - 1951

“The first use, as far as I know, of bent plywood to span architectural space. The engineering involved was accomplished by trial and error, utilizing a few small boys jumping on various thicknesses of bent plywood in my backyard. The structure could be kept light by utilizing temporary cross tension members to get it through the hurricane season.” Paul Rudolph, quoted in the Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, The Architecture of Paul Rudolph, 1970

22B Umbrella House - 1953

“An excellent example of “Sarasota School” modern architecture designed by world famous architect, Paul Rudolph. The home exemplifies so many experimental regional design principles of its era. The concept has been copied all over the world. And, it has been well looked after and lovingly restored in the past decade.” Nomination by Joyce Owens

22C Cohen House - 1955

The Cohens were a civic-minded and musical couple and wanted a practical house to entertain, Mr. Cohen was concertmaster for the Florida West Coast Symphony orchestra. In describing his home, Cohen said: “…very ample and straightforward – practical – not ornate – no lost space,– no silly walls with curves or dead-end rooms.” Architectural Record, Houses of 1956

22D Taylor House - 1955

“The neat little Florida house (1,100 sq.ft.)…is one of the clearest demonstrations to date of the three great advantages of a good patio plan: 1) a greater sense of space, 2) a better balance of light, 3 ) a cooler breeze in every room.” “Patio House for a Small Lot,” House & Home, February 1958

22E Deering Residence - 1956

“On Casey Key, a strip of sand near Sarasota, Paul Rudolph has designed an exquisite, contradictory little cliff of a year-round residence. It is a house whose facades, in Rudolph’s own phrase, are ‘willful distortions’ of what happens indoors.” “Cabana in Concrete,” Architectural Forum, May 1959

22F Burkhardt / Cohen Residence - 1957

“The T. H. Burkhardt residence on Casey Key is a graceful Twentieth Century house designed for patio living. Architect Paul Rudolph has taken a simple Florida concept and integrated it into a design which creates subtle moods and effects.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 28, 1957

22G Martin Harkavy House - 1957

“The Harkavy house, designed by Paul Rudolph in the mid-50s, is one of the most extraordinary mid-century modern residences I have ever seen.” Adapted from nomination by Marcia Crawley

22A Hook Guest House - 1951

“The first use, as far as I know, of bent plywood to span architectural space. The engineering involved was accomplished by trial and error, utilizing a few small boys jumping on various thicknesses of bent plywood in my backyard. The structure could be kept light by utilizing temporary cross tension members to get it through the hurricane season.” Paul Rudolph, quoted in the Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, The Architecture of Paul Rudolph, 1970

Architect: Paul Rudolph

160 Sandy Hook Road, Siesta Key

Image Courtesy: Library of Congress

22B Umbrella House - 1953

“An excellent example of “Sarasota School” modern architecture designed by world famous architect, Paul Rudolph. The home exemplifies so many experimental regional design principles of its era. The concept has been copied all over the world. And, it has been well looked after and lovingly restored in the past decade.” Nomination by Joyce Owens

Architect: Paul Rudolph

Restoration Architects: Hall Architects, SOLSTICE Planning and Architecture

1300 Westway Drive, Lido Key

Philip Hiss, who began to develop Lido Shores around 1950, commissioned Paul Rudolph to design a “show house” that would demonstrate the potential of “tropical” modern architecture. Rudolph based the structure on a 32-inch module, the width of jalousie windows ordered from Sears, Roebuck, and Company. Inside, varying floor elevations and ceiling heights helped define social and private spaces within the residence’s open plan. In 2015, the umbrella was reconstructed using aluminum and other contemporary materials to faithfully replicate the original. Morris Hylton III and Christine M. French,  Florida’s Mid-Century Modern Architecture: 1945-1975, 2018 

The Umbrella House was selected as one of the five most remarkable houses of the mid-20th century by Architectural Digest and appeared in the book  The Iconic American House: Architectural Masterworks Since 1900 (Dominic Bradbury and Richard Powers, 2000). 

Photo: Nicholas Ferris Photography

22C Cohen House - 1955

The Cohens were a civic-minded and musical couple and wanted a practical house to entertain, Mr. Cohen was concertmaster for the Florida West Coast Symphony orchestra. In describing his home, Cohen said: “…very ample and straightforward – practical – not ornate – no lost space,– no silly walls with curves or dead-end rooms.” Architectural Record, Houses of 1956

Architect: Paul Rudolph

101 Garden Lane, Siesta Key

Image Courtesy: Architecture Sarasota Archives

22D Taylor House - 1955

“The neat little Florida house (1,100 sq.ft.)…is one of the clearest demonstrations to date of the three great advantages of a good patio plan: 1) a greater sense of space, 2) a better balance of light, 3 ) a cooler breeze in every room.” “Patio House for a Small Lot,” House & Home, February 1958

Architect: Paul Rudolph

324 Tarpon Street, Venice

Image Courtesy: Library of Congress

22E Deering Residence - 1956

“On Casey Key, a strip of sand near Sarasota, Paul Rudolph has designed an exquisite, contradictory little cliff of a year-round residence. It is a house whose facades, in Rudolph’s own phrase, are ‘willful distortions’ of what happens indoors.” “Cabana in Concrete,” Architectural Forum, May 1959

Architect: Paul Rudolph

3009 Casey Key Road, Casey Key

The residence was renovated and expanded in 1961 and again in the 2000s.

Image Courtesy: Library of Congress

22F Burkhardt / Cohen Residence - 1957

“The T. H. Burkhardt residence on Casey Key is a graceful Twentieth Century house designed for patio living. Architect Paul Rudolph has taken a simple Florida concept and integrated it into a design which creates subtle moods and effects.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 28, 1957

Architect: Paul Rudolph

Architect of Additions: Toshiko Mori Architect

1240 Casey Key Road, Casey Key

The original design of the Burkhardt residence included a screened, open-air living area flanked by bedroom wings. Commissioned by current owners Betsy and Ed Cohen, Architect Toshiko Mori designed two pavilions for the property (1997 and 2005) that complement the original architecture.

Image Courtesy: Architecture Sarasota Archives

22G Martin Harkavy House - 1957

“The Harkavy house, designed by Paul Rudolph in the mid-50s, is one of the most extraordinary mid-century modern residences I have ever seen.” Adapted from nomination by Marcia Crawley

Martin Harkavy House

Architect: Paul Rudolph Restoration

Architect: John Quinn

113 Morningside Drive, Lido Key

Local lawyer Martin Harkavy sought out Rudolph in 1957 to design a house for this Lido Shores property. Because the home is bound on three sides by other properties, Rudolph placed the bedroom wing on the street side and made the backyard the focus of the public spaces. The bedrooms are screened by a wooden lattice, both for privacy and for environmental reasons since they face due south. Both the east and west sides of the building have large eight-foot overhangs with cantilevered wood beams adhering to the six-foot structural grid of the house. Full height sliding doors can be opened on the east and west sides to promote cross ventilation and connect the indoors to the outside. The screened porch beyond has since been enclosed in glass. In 2006, architect John Quinn added a new entry space with bedroom and bathroom above.

Image Courtesy: Library of Congress

Single Family Residences - 1920s - 1940s

4 Chunn House -1926

“Florida is comparatively a new country, and it is particularly interesting to find here homes that have all the glamour and artistic traditions of the past with all the comforts of the very new present.” Arts & Decoration, September 1927

8 Boat and Lighthouse - 1935

The Boat and Lighthouse are two buildings that represent the early development of the Gillespie Park neighborhood. The first owner of the Boathouse, Arthur Rowe, was a yacht captain for influential Sarasota businessmen, John Ringling and William Selby. These whimsical buildings relay the significance of water and the city’s relationship with Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

9 Van Wezel Estate -1937

“The Van Wezels were diamond merchants who emigrated from Europe. The family has had a large influence on the City of Sarasota. This was their original estate.” Nomination by Anne Essner

12 Lamolithic-Lambie Development - 1948

Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph designed a compound of four, one-story homes for Sarasota developer John Edward Lambie Jr. using his Lamolithic concrete technology. The term ‘Lamolithic’ is a combination of Lambie’s name and the word “lithic” meaning made of stone. Lamolithic was promoted as “low maintenance, fireproof, and hurricane-proof.” Architectural Forum, October 1948

13 Revere Quality House - 1948

“An icon of Sarasota Modern architecture, these two houses embody the mid-century modern architecture of Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph and the contemporary design of Guy Peterson. I especially like how Guy designed the large house to accompany the smaller existing house making both fit the property and enabling the smaller house to become a useful guest house and preserved for history.” Nomination by Leslie Butterfield

14 Lustron Home #1687 - 1949

“The residence is one of about 2,500 “kit houses” that were produced by the Lustron Corporation between 1948 and 1951. The Lustron house components, including exterior and interior walls, roof, and cabinets and other features, were porcelain enameled steel pieces produced in an Ohio factory. Ordered by mail, 3,000 pieces and all the screws needed to assemble the structure were shipped to the site in a specifically fitted truck. An “Erection Manual” provided step-by-step directions for assembly. Assembly time averaged about 400 hours. This prefabricated dwelling was an attractive option during the housing shortage that followed the Second World War. Lustron Home #1687 is the only one in Sarasota County and one of only a half dozen in the state of Florida.” Adapted from nomination by Christopher Wilson

15 Nate and Muriel Eagle House - 1949

A rare example of a Streamline Moderne style residence, the house was designed for “graceful Florida living.” First owners of the house, circus ringmaster Nate Eagle and his wife Muriel, lived in the house until 1956. The Eagle House’s architectural and interior details, including its original terrazzo floors and kitchen cabinets, retain a high degree of integrity and convey the building’s architectural and historic significance.

4 Chunn House -1926

“Florida is comparatively a new country, and it is particularly interesting to find here homes that have all the glamour and artistic traditions of the past with all the comforts of the very new present.” Arts & Decoration, September 1927

Architects: Dwight James Baum and Ralph Twitchell

Developer: Sarasota Homes Inc.

7211 Broughton Street, Sarasota

In 1926, Ralph Twitchell supervised the construction of four residences designed by Dwight James Baum. Signifying what would be a career-long focus on color and detail, Twitchell personally mixed the paint for the buildings. Twitchell’s family moved into the first house completed in June 1926.

Image Courtesy: www.zillow.com

8 Boat and Lighthouse - 1935

The Boat and Lighthouse are two buildings that represent the early development of the Gillespie Park neighborhood. The first owner of the Boathouse, Arthur Rowe, was a yacht captain for influential Sarasota businessmen, John Ringling and William Selby. These whimsical buildings relay the significance of water and the city’s relationship with Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Builder: Oliver Blackburn

425-433 North Osprey Avenue, Sarasota

Image Courtesy: Architecture Sarasota Archives

9 Van Wezel Estate -1937

“The Van Wezels were diamond merchants who emigrated from Europe. The family has had a large influence on the City of Sarasota. This was their original estate.” Nomination by Anne Essner

Architects: Thomas Reed Martin and J. H. Johnson

535 South Boulevard of the Presidents, Lido Key

Among the first structures constructed on Lido Key, the residence was owned and occupied by Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel for 28 years. The namesakes of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center (1970), the couple were noted for their philanthropy and support of the West Coast Symphony Orchestra.

Image Courtesy: Sarasota County History Center

12 Lamolithic-Lambie Development - 1948

Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph designed a compound of four, one-story homes for Sarasota developer John Edward Lambie Jr. using his Lamolithic concrete technology. The term ‘Lamolithic’ is a combination of Lambie’s name and the word “lithic” meaning made of stone. Lamolithic was promoted as “low maintenance, fireproof, and hurricane-proof.” Architectural Forum, October 1948

Architects: Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph

Developer: John Lambie Jr.

5528, 5540, 5544, and 5446 Avenida Del Mare, Siesta Key

Described as “providing luxury on a small scale,” this project was Rudolph’s first opportunity to experiment with the design of multiple, adjacent dwelling units, an architectural challenge that would continue to be of great interest to him throughout his career. Christopher Domin, Joseph King, and Ezra Stoller, Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses, 2002

To provide variety, individual residences, which had the same layout, were placed at different distances from the street and rotated in plan so that each dwelling did not face into the private outdoor area of adjacent units.

Image Courtesy: Library of Congress

13 Revere Quality House - 1948

“An icon of Sarasota Modern architecture, these two houses embody the mid-century modern architecture of Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph and the contemporary design of Guy Peterson. I especially like how Guy designed the large house to accompany the smaller existing house making both fit the property and enabling the smaller house to become a useful guest house and preserved for history.” Nomination by Leslie Butterfield

Architects: Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph

Builder: Lamolithic Industries, Inc.

Restoration Architect: Guy Peterson OFA

Structural Engineers: Wilson Structural

100 Ogden Street, Siesta Key

In the late 1940s, the Revere Quality House Institute, established by Revere Copper and Brass Inc., partnered with Architectural Forum and commissioned eight houses across the country to showcase their products and serve as models during the burgeoning post–World War II housing boom. Architects Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph were chosen and worked with builder John Lambie Jr.

Described as “airy, light, and modern” by The Tampa Tribune, Twitchell and Rudolph designed a two-bedroom, one-bath, modestly sized home with a screened outdoor living area connected to the inside by a sliding window wall. The house’s roof is poured-in-place concrete supported by round, steel “lally” columns.

The house was restored by architect Guy Peterson who also designed a companion house inspired by the original.

In 2023, Architecture Sarasota had the residence and property digitally documented using terrestrial LiDAR (laser scanning). The organization also commissioned Integrated Conservation Resources, Inc. (ICR), a New York City-based architectural conservation firm, to complete a study on the original paint colors and finishes of the residence’s exterior and interior. Over 100 samples revealed a pale yellow that was used for the lally columns and a pale blue green –often referred to as Twitchell blue – on the ceiling.

As described by Paul Rudolph, the original color scheme of the house was “subdued and quiet, in cool contrast to the sunny, living warmth” of the sub-tropical vegetation so prominent from the highly transparent house. Paul Rudolph, quoted in NRHP # 07001200, 2008.

Image Courtesy: Library of Congress

14 Lustron Home #1687 - 1949

“The residence is one of about 2,500 “kit houses” that were produced by the Lustron Corporation between 1948 and 1951. The Lustron house components, including exterior and interior walls, roof, and cabinets and other features, were porcelain enameled steel pieces produced in an Ohio factory. Ordered by mail, 3,000 pieces and all the screws needed to assemble the structure were shipped to the site in a specifically fitted truck. An “Erection Manual” provided step-by-step directions for assembly. Assembly time averaged about 400 hours. This prefabricated dwelling was an attractive option during the housing shortage that followed the Second World War. Lustron Home #1687 is the only one in Sarasota County and one of only a half dozen in the state of Florida.” Adapted from nomination by Christopher Wilson

1956 Rose Street, Sarasota

Photo: Christopher Wilson

15 Nate and Muriel Eagle House - 1949

A rare example of a Streamline Moderne style residence, the house was designed for “graceful Florida living.” First owners of the house, circus ringmaster Nate Eagle and his wife Muriel, lived in the house until 1956. The Eagle House’s architectural and interior details, including its original terrazzo floors and kitchen cabinets, retain a high degree of integrity and convey the building’s architectural and historic significance.

2516 Mulberry Terrace, Sarasota

The house was rehabilitated by Carrie and Ken Cox, who commissioned Sarasota artist John Pirman to create a sculpture that reflects Eagle’s involvement with the circus.

City of Sarasota Historic Designation  23-HD-01 

Image Courtesy: Carrie Cox

Single Family Residences 1950s - 1960s

17 Healy Guest (“Cocoon”) House - 1950

“In a sense this is an anti-social building, for it ignores the neighboring assortment of non-committal houses. It can even be said that it dominates the bayou because of its placement, form, colors and materials. The surrounding structures are already covered with a profusion of lush growth; in this cottage, however, we wanted to demonstrate that harmony between the work of nature and the work of man can be brought about by clearly differentiating between the two.” Twitchell and Rudolph, Architectural Forum, June, 1956

18 Allen and Barbara Bennett Residence - 1950

The design of the Bennett residence reflects the Sarasota School of Architecture principles: clarity of composition, honesty of materials, and economy of means. Glass walls visually and physically connect the interior to the outdoors and a private garden courtyard. The fireplace and walls are made of Ocala block, a masonry unit made of cement mixed with buff colored limestone from the Ocala region. Architecture Sarasota Archives

19 Denton-Serrano House - 1951-1952

“Originally constructed in 1951-1952, this Lido Key residence underwent a series of thoughtful renovations, trans- forming it from a midcentury-modern, ranch-style house into an award-winning Sarasota School of Architecture gem. The home flawlessly blends cherished historic elements with contemporary luxuries. The design evolution began after the home’s purchase in 1989, with the current owner orchestrating three major renovations over the next 30-plus years. The most recent renovation, finished in 2021, converted the home into a versatile split plan with the addition of a private guest wing.” Adapted from nomination by Kate Recupero

25 Herron House - 1957

“The residence exemplifies Mr. Lundy’s sculptural formation of space utilizing a curvilinear structural frame enabling interconnected rooms and wide expanses of glazing for exterior light / views.” Nomination by Jon Barrick

31 Sylvia Twitchell / Lucienne Nielsen House - 1958

“Ralph Twitchell came out of semi-retirement to design this house for his former wife, Lucienne who had married Karl Nielsen, pastor of the Unitarian Church. The [National Register] nomination emphasizes that the house is “a highly individual stylistic statement, a one-of-kind design created to suit the needs of a client for a comfortable and visually distinctive residence.” Adapted from nomination by Karen Twitchell

35 Stuart Rae Residence - 1960

“The house was designed for artist Stuart Rae and is a perfect example of a Twitchell-designed building. It gives a visitor a great experience of space: enter through a beautiful carved wooden door into an outdoor covered walkway…all rooms have floor-to- ceiling sliding glass doors. Residents, guests, and tourers often remark that the home exudes a feeling of peace and serenity.” Adapted from nominations by Karen Twitchell and Lisa Russo

36 Hilton Leech Studio - 1960

Hilton and Dorothy Leech were artists and teachers. The architects, knowing that a circle encloses the maximum area with the least perimeter, designed a cylinder with a specific radius so that the concrete bricks appeared visually compatible with the curve. Natural light through the clerestory windows reflected off the flattened cone ceiling providing diffused light appropriate for painting.

46 Padgett House - 1965

“Ocala-style brick, wood, and glass, and overall style typical to Sarasota School of Architecture.” Nomination by Jennifer Miller

47 Cooney House - 1967

“This relatively small house by Tim Seibert has been sensitively renovated (with Seibert’s guidance and approval) such that it functions beautifully when compared against a checklist of contemporary “needs.” Nomination by Anne Essner

17 Healy Guest (“Cocoon”) House - 1950

“In a sense this is an anti-social building, for it ignores the neighboring assortment of non-committal houses. It can even be said that it dominates the bayou because of its placement, form, colors and materials. The surrounding structures are already covered with a profusion of lush growth; in this cottage, however, we wanted to demonstrate that harmony between the work of nature and the work of man can be brought about by clearly differentiating between the two.” Twitchell and Rudolph, Architectural Forum, June, 1956

Architects: Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph

3575 Bayou Louise Lane, Siesta Key

Image Courtesy: Architecture Sarasota Archives

18 Allen and Barbara Bennett Residence - 1950

The design of the Bennett residence reflects the Sarasota School of Architecture principles: clarity of composition, honesty of materials, and economy of means. Glass walls visually and physically connect the interior to the outdoors and a private garden courtyard. The fireplace and walls are made of Ocala block, a masonry unit made of cement mixed with buff colored limestone from the Ocala region. Architecture Sarasota Archives

Architects: Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph

Restoration Architect: Joseph King

3901 Riverview Boulevard, Bradenton

Photo: Jenny Acheson

19 Denton-Serrano House - 1951-1952

“Originally constructed in 1951-1952, this Lido Key residence underwent a series of thoughtful renovations, trans- forming it from a midcentury-modern, ranch-style house into an award-winning Sarasota School of Architecture gem. The home flawlessly blends cherished historic elements with contemporary luxuries. The design evolution began after the home’s purchase in 1989, with the current owner orchestrating three major renovations over the next 30-plus years. The most recent renovation, finished in 2021, converted the home into a versatile split plan with the addition of a private guest wing.” Adapted from nomination by Kate Recupero

Restoration Architect: Michael Epstein, Seibert Architects

117 South Polk Drive, Sarasota

Image Courtesy: www.michaelsounders.com

25 Herron House - 1957

“The residence exemplifies Mr. Lundy’s sculptural formation of space utilizing a curvilinear structural frame enabling interconnected rooms and wide expanses of glazing for exterior light / views.” Nomination by Jon Barrick

Architect: Victor Lundy

615 Alhambra Road, Venice

“Circles, squares, and fanciful curves are deftly interlocked to form a forceful, different, and highly adaptable house. It is sheltered by a sinuous, free-standing roof of laminated glued arches. Beneath this, nonstructural partitions define a basically H-shaped plan with a large circular living area as its core.” "Bold Interplay of Forms," Architectural Record, May 1958

Image Courtesy: Architecture Sarasota Archives

31 Sylvia Twitchell / Lucienne Nielsen House - 1958

“Ralph Twitchell came out of semi-retirement to design this house for his former wife, Lucienne who had married Karl Nielsen, pastor of the Unitarian Church. The [National Register] nomination emphasizes that the house is “a highly individual stylistic statement, a one-of-kind design created to suit the needs of a client for a comfortable and visually distinctive residence.” Adapted from nomination by Karen Twitchell

Architect: Ralph Twitchell

3730 Sandspur Lane, Casey Key

Image: Lorrie Muldowney

35 Stuart Rae Residence - 1960

“The house was designed for artist Stuart Rae and is a perfect example of a Twitchell-designed building. It gives a visitor a great experience of space: enter through a beautiful carved wooden door into an outdoor covered walkway…all rooms have floor-to- ceiling sliding glass doors. Residents, guests, and tourers often remark that the home exudes a feeling of peace and serenity.” Adapted from nominations by Karen Twitchell and Lisa Russo

Architects: Ralph Twitchell and Tollyn Twitchell

1224 Port Lane, Siesta Key

“Here is a Good Idea for the Basic Florida House.” House & Home, February 1962

Image Courtesy: Architecture Sarasota Archives

36 Hilton Leech Studio - 1960

Hilton and Dorothy Leech were artists and teachers. The architects, knowing that a circle encloses the maximum area with the least perimeter, designed a cylinder with a specific radius so that the concrete bricks appeared visually compatible with the curve. Natural light through the clerestory windows reflected off the flattened cone ceiling providing diffused light appropriate for painting.

Architects: Jack West and Elizabeth Boylston Waters

4433 Riverwood Avenue, Sarasota

Image Courtesy: Sarasota County History Center

46 Padgett House - 1965

“Ocala-style brick, wood, and glass, and overall style typical to Sarasota School of Architecture.” Nomination by Jennifer Miller

Architect: James Padgett

2036 Mayflower Street, Sarasota

Architect James Padgett designed this house for his family. The expansive walls of the buildings front elevation screens a two-story living room that opens to a private courtyard. Character-defining elements include a carport, deep eves, clerestory windows, wood siding, skylights, and terrazzo floors have been preserved.

Image Courtesy: www.zillow.com

47 Cooney House - 1967

“This relatively small house by Tim Seibert has been sensitively renovated (with Seibert’s guidance and approval) such that it functions beautifully when compared against a checklist of contemporary “needs.” Nomination by Anne Essner

Architect: Edward “Tim” Seibert

Renovation: Seibert Architects

44 South Washington Drive, Sarasota

“This house was designed in the early sixties for my friend Dick Cooney, the attorney for the Sarasota County School Board. It is a house using the most ordinary of materials: concrete block, stucco, drywall, a tar and gravel roof of dimension lumber, and plywood. The decoration is about shadows on white walls, and the shadows must be of perfect geometry, complementing the bold use of colors.” Edward “Tim” Seibert, for Sarasota Architectural Foundation, Inc, 2003

Photo: Jenny Acheson

Single Family Residences - 1970s - 2020s

54 Abe Sainer Residence - 1970

Architect Sanford Goldman studied under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin East in Wisconsin and Taliesin West in Arizona (1955 and 1957). By his own admission, this experience deeply influenced his architecture. The Sandy Hook residence is the only Sarasota example of Goldman’s work and a prime example of his distinctive approach to modernism. The buff-colored brick walls enclose vertical and horizontal spaces. Vast expanses of windows visually connect the building’s interiors to its natural, Gulf Coast setting.

60 Norsota Way Residence - 1983

Designed at a time when reinterpretation of the Mediterranean Revival style was gaining popularity, this residence was inspired in part by the architecture of Richard Meier, Peter Eisenmann, and others who had “ushered in a new enthusiasm for the International design elements that had predominated prior to World War II, albeit with larger expanses of glass on rear-view facades.” Virginia S. McAlester, A Field Guide to American Houses, Kindle Edition

66 Dolphin House - 1997

“The house demonstrates how to make the best use of a small, non-square lot. It’s design makes the house feel much larger than it actually is. And it provides a wonderful daily view of dolphins and shore birds as part of daily living in it.” Nomination by Melvin Dickover

81 Tetreault-Pirman House 2012

“This home…stands as both homage to the past, and testament to the adage that all great architecture is timeless. Designed by Michael Epstein, the house brings Sarasota modern into the 21st century using design principles for which the Sarasota School became renowned.” Nomination by John Pirman

82 Spencer House - 2013

“An absolute marvel designed by Guy Peterson. The home has influenced many new homes in the area!” Nomination by Robert Ashby

84 Butterfield House - 2015

This residence pays homage to Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph’s Healy Guest “Cocoon” House across Bayou Louise by orienting itself to the historic structure. A generous outdoor space ingeniously solves the requirement to protect the structure from flooding and provides extra space. Its neighbor to the south is also a Twitchell-Rudolph collaboration, The Revere Quality House.

98 Shibusa - 2020

Located on Siesta Key overlooking Sarasota Bay, this house consists of two intersecting pavilions raised above the subtropical landscape. The design concept is based on the Japanese word shibusa that encompasses a simple and subdued appearance but refined quality with an economy of form, line, and effort, producing a timeless and tranquil aesthetic.

99 Bay House - 2021

“Concrete is the blood of Sarasota,” said Damien Blumetti. He was alluding to a tradition that dates back at least to Ralph Twitchell, the architect widely credited with launching the Sarasota School of Architecture. Blumetti’s design for the Bay House in Siesta Key is simultaneously an heir to Sarasota’s modernist legacy and a forward-looking, 21st-century structure in its own right.

54 Abe Sainer Residence - 1970

Architect Sanford Goldman studied under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin East in Wisconsin and Taliesin West in Arizona (1955 and 1957). By his own admission, this experience deeply influenced his architecture. The Sandy Hook residence is the only Sarasota example of Goldman’s work and a prime example of his distinctive approach to modernism. The buff-colored brick walls enclose vertical and horizontal spaces. Vast expanses of windows visually connect the building’s interiors to its natural, Gulf Coast setting.

Architect: Sanford Goldman

21 Sandy Hook Road North, Siesta Key

Image Courtesy: University of Florida Library

60 Norsota Way Residence - 1983

Designed at a time when reinterpretation of the Mediterranean Revival style was gaining popularity, this residence was inspired in part by the architecture of Richard Meier, Peter Eisenmann, and others who had “ushered in a new enthusiasm for the International design elements that had predominated prior to World War II, albeit with larger expanses of glass on rear-view facades.” Virginia S. McAlester, A Field Guide to American Houses, Kindle Edition

Architect: Attributed to architect Michael Ridder

615 Norsota Way, Sarasota

Photo: Natalia Benavides

66 Dolphin House - 1997

“The house demonstrates how to make the best use of a small, non-square lot. It’s design makes the house feel much larger than it actually is. And it provides a wonderful daily view of dolphins and shore birds as part of daily living in it.” Nomination by Melvin Dickover

Architect: Carl Abbott

3251 Higel Avenue, Siesta Key

“Carl Abbott’s work is a rare and impressive combination of architectural clarity and hu- manistic warmth. The spaces both inside and out are at one with the landscape and topography…” Lord Norman Foster, The Best of Carl Abbott, FAIA, 2004

Image Courtesy: Carl Abbott, In/Formed by Land, 2013

81 Tetreault-Pirman House 2012

“This home…stands as both homage to the past, and testament to the adage that all great architecture is timeless. Designed by Michael Epstein, the house brings Sarasota modern into the 21st century using design principles for which the Sarasota School became renowned.” Nomination by John Pirman

Architect: Michael Epstein, Seibert Architects

430 Acacia Drive, Sarasota

Some of the principles of the Sarasota School period embodied in this house design are a strong visual and physical relationship to the surrounding environment, honest use of simple materials, clear geometry, and maximum economy of means.  www.seibertarchitects.com 

Photo: Joshua McHugh

82 Spencer House - 2013

“An absolute marvel designed by Guy Peterson. The home has influenced many new homes in the area!” Nomination by Robert Ashby

Architect: Guy Peterson OFA

1601 Prospect Street, Sarasota

Located in an older neighborhood, on a busy street not far from downtown, the Spencer House was designed to provide privacy including outdoor living areas enclosed by walls. The public spaces are housed in a horizontal base. Emerging from the base, a tower contains private spaces.

Photo: Greg Wilson

84 Butterfield House - 2015

This residence pays homage to Ralph Twitchell and Paul Rudolph’s Healy Guest “Cocoon” House across Bayou Louise by orienting itself to the historic structure. A generous outdoor space ingeniously solves the requirement to protect the structure from flooding and provides extra space. Its neighbor to the south is also a Twitchell-Rudolph collaboration, The Revere Quality House.

Architects: Carl Abbott and Leonardo Lunardi

101 Ogden Street, Sarasota

Image Courtesy: Architecture Sarasota Archives

98 Shibusa - 2020

Located on Siesta Key overlooking Sarasota Bay, this house consists of two intersecting pavilions raised above the subtropical landscape. The design concept is based on the Japanese word shibusa that encompasses a simple and subdued appearance but refined quality with an economy of form, line, and effort, producing a timeless and tranquil aesthetic.

Architects: hive architects

Builder: Nautilus Homes

3344 Gulfmead Drive, Siesta Key

Photo: Ryan Gamma Photography

99 Bay House - 2021

“Concrete is the blood of Sarasota,” said Damien Blumetti. He was alluding to a tradition that dates back at least to Ralph Twitchell, the architect widely credited with launching the Sarasota School of Architecture. Blumetti’s design for the Bay House in Siesta Key is simultaneously an heir to Sarasota’s modernist legacy and a forward-looking, 21st-century structure in its own right.

Architect: Damien Blumetti Architect

830 Siesta Drive, Siesta Key

This house floats above its site and provides uninterrupted water views. Reflecting the aesthetic tastes of the owner, the house has a simple and honestly treated materials palette that compliments the site’s subtropical vegetation and waterfront setting.

Photo: Ryan Gamma Photography