A fusion of great minds with unique design sensibilities shaped the Modern Movement also known as Sarasota Modern. Just imagine a display of art and a place to call home rolled into one fantastic structure.
Architecture enthusiasts converge on Sarasota to look at our famous structures firsthand. Sure, every town contains a handful of interesting homes, but our city stands apart from most. Over the past sixty years, the Sarasota School of Architecture emerged as much more than a mere regional style of modern architecture. Mid-century architecture achieved its purest, most elegant form right here. These iconic buildings inspire the same way great art inspires – with timeless appeal.
Though architect Paul Rudolph practiced in Sarasota for only a few years, his innovative architects and one-time partner Ralph Twitchell led the Sarasota School of Architecture in designing Modernist homes and public buildings with the Florida climate and everyday life in mind, and these structures have passed the test of time. With a forward-thinking focus on green design, they used local materials and elements like pavilions, frames, and overhanging roofs to reduce the effects of the sun.
Rudolph designed private homes in the Sunshine State, as well as structures like the Sanderling Beach Club pavilion, in an open modern style. Arguably, the Umbrella House stands as the most notable example of his work in Sarasota. Museum exhibit designers purchased and restored this renowned building in 2005. Right next door, architectural tourists find Rudolph’s Hiss Studio – a glass rectangle on steel columns and one of Sarasota’s first air-conditioned spaces. Unlike many historical buildings, the distinctive character of these two architectural treasures stem from design elements uniquely tailored to living in the tropics rather than on rich, ornamental details.
Sarasota claims a modernist heritage that still draws new interest. The Sarasota Modern movement flourished from 1940s through the ‘60s on Florida’s West Coast with a Bauhaus-inspired tropical modernism. Yet, this style remains relevant over fifty years later.
Tracing the relevancy of these older homes leads to trends in current green or sustainable design – natural air flow, passive design, connections between the interior and exterior space, and native landscaping. The definitive architecture of Sarasota embraces the environment. Looking to the future, designers and developers continue to prioritize the tropical climate, sunshine, and coastal breeze.
Sarasota’s architecture scene remains as fascinating as it is diverse – from rustic wood frames to sleek modern elegance and lots of Mediterranean inspired shoreline homes. If you are interested in moving to Sarasota or have any questions at all about historical real estate, give me a call at 941.266.0529 to learn more about the top family homes and investment properties Sarasota has to offer.
Want to explore more of the world-renowned Sarasota Modern style? Tour Sarasota at your own pace with the Sarasota’s Architecture Foundation’s guide that offers art exhibition, exclusive walking, driving and kayaking tours. Visit SarasotaMOD for more information.
