Designed by Sarasota architect Guy Peterson, this American resort-town residence hides some very interesting architectural concepts behind its imposing facade. With a design calling for one of the largest and more eye-catching homes in the area, the need for measures to protects residents’ privacy was clear. At the same time, those residents wished to be as connected as possible to the tropical air and plant life. The result of those seemingly opposite requirements is a home with many layers and innovations. The first-floor outer wall of the house actually functions as a buffer, hiding within it more outdoor space before reaching the building itself, and many of that building’s passageways are actually outside, set in ceilingless corridors and open-air transit areas. In the middle of the property, a huge three-story structure contains most of the true interior of the dwelling as well as even more outdoor space.
The house is very luxurious throughout its many modes, with high-end wood finishes, top-of-the-line appliances, and novel design details. Its lower level includes one of the largest skylights we’ve ever seen, over an expansive pool and its patio. Looking out over this pool area is a long combination living room and dining room, with variable-height ceilings and an open staircase. A loft and private work room lie on the second floor (the first section of the tower in the center), and above that are the master quarters. This hierarchal structure transitions from hosting spaces to the most private rooms in a dignified yet impressive manner, solidifying the home’s creative architectural concepts overall.
The massive house dwarfs any neighbors in both height and scope, with three full stories of rooms. Its structure is unique, with a central tower of private rooms rising high above the entertaining spaces on the first floor.
A small park bench area lies on the path outside the front entrance to the house, an entrance made to subtly match the garage next to it in style.
Set on a corner in the middle of a busy resort town, the house is designed to capture plenty of attention while protecting the privacy of those within. It’s captivating, but not revealing. Local wild grasses dominate one side of the front yard.
The lawn is sculpted with significant use of right angles, matching the overall architecture of its master house. Behind the front outer wall of the fortress-like house, you can see a couple more palms cresting.
A large installation rises from the main floor, two stories tall, containing bedrooms, bathrooms, and a couple public loft spaces.
On the rear edge of the top floor, where private rooms lie, the patterned openings are swapped for a smooth, uninterrupted wall. Below a vast skylight two floors below, an enclosed pool area can be found resting in the center of the house.
At the very top of the tallest portion of the house, above the master bedroom and bathroom, an unadorned deck provides sweeping views of palms for miles around.
Down a flight of stairs and just outside the master bedroom, a slightly more defined indoor/outdoor deck provides shaded space for relaxation.
With one last downward trek downward, you arrive at a division zone between the public hosting parts of the house on the bottom floor and the private chambers above.
Much of the home’s architecture, strangely, resembles that of a military fort. It has an exterior shell allowing its interior operations to stay hidden, and a central command tower to survey it all. It’s likely unintentional, but it’s an interesting comparison nonetheless.
This scene greets residents and visitors upon passing through the entrance gate in the outer wall. The doorway into the actual inner house building is an unadorned office-style piece, reserving all the drama for the architecture around it.
Deep within the bowels of the sweeping residence (glimpsed from above earlier on) is an open pool area, a central courtyard for entertaining and relaxation far from prying eyes.
Because it’s set under a permanent glass skylight roof, the pool area can be filled with furnishings and amenities that aren’t weatherproof, resulting in a much more luxurious setting than many backyard pools.
Because of the sheer volume of outdoor amenities within the outer barrier of the abode, the inner building itself is rather thin compared to how it looks on the outside. Its lower level is mainly just a single room, this combination living and dining area.
The living area is a direct contrast to the home’s overall architecture, with curving furniture pieces and neon colors. This juxtaposition helps separate the area into its own distinct space within the larger room that encompasses the first floor.
The front side of the second and third floor receive natural light from the pinpoint square holes in the front wall, a match to those in the lower outer wall of the house.
A comfortable loft area above the dining room makes for a more personal and comfortable place to sit and relax, more suited to everyday use than the vast entertaining space below.
Perhaps surprisingly, the home’s master bedroom is a relatively unadorned room, with simple white walls and an unpretentious bed. Interestingly, the tile choice on this floor is rather dated in style, showing perhaps an element of personal taste overriding the architecture agency’s ideal design.
The master bathroom, which carries over the same tile from the bedroom, is a serene and artistic space, with simple color contrast and extra light from thin skylights above the counters.
Off one side of the master tower complex is the most personal room of the home, a space for the homeowner to work on his wooden ship models while enjoying a view of his property and beyond.
Guy Peterson Office For Architecture
