Sarasota School of Architecture
Encyclopedia
The Sarasota School of Architecture, sometimes called "Sarasota Modern," is a regional style of post-war architecture that emerged on Florida's Central West Coast. Many of the architects who pioneered this style became world renowned later in their careers, and several significant buildings remain in Sarasota, Florida
today.
Sarasota School of Architecture is characterized by its attention to climate and terrain. Large sunshades, innovative ventilation systems, oversized sliding glass doors, floating staircases, and walls of jalousie windows dominate many of these buildings, mostly built between 1941 and 1966.
Paul Rudolph
, Bert Brosmith, Ralph Twitchell, Victor Lundy, Tim Seibert, Jack West, Philip Hiss, Gene Leedy
and Mark Hampton are the leading names of this particular regional style. Rudolph is arguably the biggest star, as the fanfare over the recent renovations of his Yale Art and Architecture Building attests to. However, within Sarasota he also designed a number of houses, schools, churches and public facilities. His Sanderling Beach Club
is now on the National Register of Historic Places
, and Riverview High School
was nominated for the list of America's Most Endangered Places
, although the high school has since been demolished.
Sarasota Modern buildings can best be seen on the island of Lido Key
, where Rudolph's Umbrella House sits alongside other important Sarasota Modern houses in this once exclusively Sarasota School of Architecture subdivision, as well as at the City Hall, and in a number of older neighborhoods. Sarasota High School
also features Rudolph designed buildings.
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
today.
Sarasota School of Architecture is characterized by its attention to climate and terrain. Large sunshades, innovative ventilation systems, oversized sliding glass doors, floating staircases, and walls of jalousie windows dominate many of these buildings, mostly built between 1941 and 1966.
Paul Rudolph
Paul Rudolph (architect)
Paul Marvin Rudolph was an American architect and the dean of the Yale School of Architecture for six years, known for use of concrete and highly complex floor plans...
, Bert Brosmith, Ralph Twitchell, Victor Lundy, Tim Seibert, Jack West, Philip Hiss, Gene Leedy
Gene Leedy
Gene Leedy is an architect based in Winter Haven, Florida.Gene Leedy has been one of the pioneers of the modern movement in Florida and was one of the founders of the now famous "Sarasota School of Architecture," including Paul Rudolph, Victor Lundy, Mark Hampton and others...
and Mark Hampton are the leading names of this particular regional style. Rudolph is arguably the biggest star, as the fanfare over the recent renovations of his Yale Art and Architecture Building attests to. However, within Sarasota he also designed a number of houses, schools, churches and public facilities. His Sanderling Beach Club
Sanderling Beach Club
The Sanderling Beach Club is a historic International style building in Sarasota, Florida, United States.It is located at 105 Beach Road, Sarasota. On June 29, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places....
is now on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and Riverview High School
Riverview High School (Sarasota, Florida)
Riverview High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Sarasota, Florida, United States. Riverview educates students from ninth grade to twelfth grade. The school has 2,654 students and 161 teachers...
was nominated for the list of America's Most Endangered Places
America's Most Endangered Places
Each year since 1987, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has released a list of places they consider the most endangered in America. The number of sites included on the list has varied, with the most recent lists settling on 11...
, although the high school has since been demolished.
Sarasota Modern buildings can best be seen on the island of Lido Key
Lido Key
Lido Key is a barrier island of the coast of Sarasota, Florida in the United States. The island has sandy beaches that face the Gulf of Mexico. The island has a seasonal nightclub scene, as well as a park called "South Lido Park", which has a beach and a woodland trail...
, where Rudolph's Umbrella House sits alongside other important Sarasota Modern houses in this once exclusively Sarasota School of Architecture subdivision, as well as at the City Hall, and in a number of older neighborhoods. Sarasota High School
Sarasota High School
Sarasota High School is a public high school in Sarasota, Florida. The mascot is the Sailor.- History :Sarasota High School first opened in 1913. A new school was built in 1926 on South Tamiami Trail and the school was relocated...
also features Rudolph designed buildings.
Sources
- Bettendorf, Elizabeth. "Tour Lets You Drive on the Modern Side." St. Petersburg Times, Fla., June 1, 2007.
- Howey, John. The Sarasota School of Architecture, 1941-1966. MIT Press, 1995.
- Szenasy, Susan. What We Value, Two Lessons in Historic Modernism: What Will We Learn From Them? Metropolis Magazine, November 2006. http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=2385.
- Weaving, Andrew. Sarasota Modern. Rizzoli, 2006.
Further reading
- Hochstim, Jan. "Florida Modern." Rizzoli International Publications, 2005.
- Howey, John. "The Sarasota School of Architecture." The MIT Press, 1995.
- Weaving, Andrew. Sarasota Modern. Rizzoli, 2006.
External links
- Central Florida Modern
- Paul Rudolph photo pool at flickr
- The Paul Rudolph Foundation
- Riverview High: From Rudolph to rubble - HeraldTribune.com, June 14, 2009