This 3,200 sq.ft. single-family residence is located on a triangular-shaped property adjacent to an undeveloped platted street on Longboat Key, Florida. The project was conceived as a primary home for a young couple and retreat for family and friends.
The resulting design is based on establishing specific project targets:
Maximize design opportunities coming from the island location and odd property shape.
Environmental sustainability/resiliency.
Compose the house to provide privacy and accommodate long-term guests.
Straightforward material palette.
The resulting project is a site-specific expression of regional modernism that responds to Southwest Florida’s harsh tropical climate.
The property dictated that the long axis of the residence is oriented north-south, unlike neighboring structures. Thus, eastern and western heat gain had to be controlled. The eastern façade is shielded by a large, fixed canopy that provides passive shading, reducing heat gain by 70%. The southern and western facades incorporate operable vertical and horizontal sunscreens, allowing the owner to control what is opened and by how much (0%-100%).
Sustainability goals included reducing dependency on the power grid. Passive systems (natural daylighting, ventilation, shading) and active systems (solar recycling/renewable materials, water collection and indoor air purification) were used. LEED Platinum is anticipated. Addressing risks from hurricanes and environmental change, the property is over elevated to protect from potential flooding.
With neighbors on three sides, the strategy was to create an inner sanctuary centered on the property’s own water features. A central pool establishes a grid for living. Once inside, public areas revolve around water while more private areas are split between the north and south – far from entertainment areas. A west-facing rooftop deck provides Gulf views.
The building palette is limited to five materials: concrete, wood, steel, aluminum, and impact-resistant glass, and the landscape design includes only Florida-native plants.
