Situated on a quarter acre lot, this 3,700 SF island residence was designed to satisfy the owner’s desire for a minimalist home in which they could both live and entertain. Centered among the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, the home is set in an enclave for modern designwhere the Sarasota School of Architecture took root and blossomed during the 1950s.
There were two main challenges the architects faced in designing this residence. The first issue was the fact that despite its location across the street from the water, the property lacked an expansive water view. To fulfill the owners’ desire for a connection to water, the architect designed the floorplan to wrap around the pool. The emphasis placed on a connection to water is a thread woven throughout the entire house: stepping-stones at the entryway lead over a reflecting pond, while the entrance hall itself acts as bridge, and all the main public and private spaces pivot around the pool, including the entry, living room, kitchen, outdoor area, library, master bedroom, and circulation areas. Daily rituals, ranging from rising in the morning and preparing meals to returning home, consistently capture the owner's desire to be surrounded by water. There are also more intimate rooms that take advantage of property views, such as the dining room, which centers on conversation, and rooms that are meant to be introspective, such as the owner’s office.
The other main challenge was to design the home on an oddly-angled, trapezoidal lot. The architect designed the home so that the secondary spaces, such as the office, laundry room, library, and upstairs terrace absorb the angles and flow with them, rather than fighting the geometric shapes. This composition grants the principal spaces the openness of a customary flow.
The concise, uncluttered interior design of simple finishes and large volumes creates a sense that the inside and exterior spaces are open and expansive, while still maintaining a sense of privacy. Unencumbered doorways, multiple vistas, and transom windows allow for abundant natural light throughout the course of the day.
The result is a home in which myriad ideas and influences are woven into one fluid experience.
