The Sarasota School of Architecture

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In the twenty-five years between 1941 and 1966 the innovative designs of Sarasota homes and businesses captured the attention of the design community worldwide. Presently, renewed interest in this “school” of architecture has occurred, fostering the publication of a book by architect John Howey, entitled The Sarasota School of Architecture as well as local, regional and national symposiums on the style. Although these modern buildings seem young when compared with traditional historic resources, their unique design, and innovative use of materials may prove to be Sarasota’s most significant architectural legacy.

Many of the homes that are part of the Sarasota School of Architecture were built on our barrier islands. They were built there because of their appeal to seasonal residents as low cost second homes, and because of their distinctly different designs, in contrast with the traditional architectural styles of the north. The philosophy of the style, to bring the outdoors in, also complimented the casual lifestyle of Siesta, Casey, and Lido Keys.

Ralph Twitchell, an early Sarasota architect is credited by most people as being the “Grandfather” of the Sarasota school of architecture. Although his work in Sarasota dates from the 1920’s, it was in the late 1930’s that his design grew more modern with a notable emphasis on clean fluid building lines and a lack of ornamentation. Twitchell completed his own Modern house on Siesta Key’s Big Pass in 1942. Still standing the home’s open plan, flat roof with broad overhangs, large expanse of glass, and stacked Ocala Block walls were typical of the early homes of the Sarasota School movement. The horizontality of these designs blended well with the flat Florida landscape.

It was after World War II that some of the most interesting examples of the Sarasota School of Architecture were completed. These homes took advantage of building technologies and materials that were developed as part of the war effort. One of the earliest and most prominent of these residences was the Healy Guest House designed by Ralph Twitchell and his young partner Paul Rudolph in 1948. This eight hundred square foot house drew attention worldwide for its innovative design which included a low slung, catenary roof supported by suspended cables, and walls constructed of louvered wood and fixed glass. A unique roof coating, which had been used to mothball ships during World War II, caused observers to call it the Cocoon House.

In 1952 after having established his own firm, Paul Rudolph designed a series of beach cabanas on south Siesta Key at the Sanderling Club. There he continued his earlier experiments with plywood construction, this time modifying the roof from a catenary form to a vaulted one. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, these simple structures were recognized for their exceptional significance in the area of architecture.

A number of other architects also have made significant contributions to establishing Sarasota’s unique regional architecture, which has come to be known as the Sarasota School of Architecture.

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