Bahia Vista

Having established a permanent residence in New Hampshire, the Owners sought a second home in Sarasota for the colder months. Their choice fell on a modern, single-family residence, a hidden gem nestled near Selby Gardens, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and various local shops and restaurants. Despite its 2003 construction date and slight outdatedness, the house boasts a solid and well-maintained structure, making it a prime candidate for a mild renovation.

Encompassing two combined lots stretching from east to west, the back of the house grazes the southern rear property line. This configuration forces the front of the house to face the massive northern front yard that includes the access gate and driveway from the public street, the main house entrance, the swimming pool, and the large outdoor terrace. With an apparent lack of privacy and no available space other than the front yard, it became a priority to provide the Owners with separate areas for public access and private outdoor entertainment. Additionally, the Owners discovered a few features that did not align with their lifestyle and needed modification. Tucked in the corner of the large living area, the small, inefficient galley-style kitchen was disproportioned compared to the open floor plan encompassing the dining room and living room. Similarly, the primary bedroom and bathroom were in large spaces without storage and functionality. As for the rest of the house, all the finishes and lighting fixtures needed to be updated, some of the rooms, such as the powder room and laundry room, needed to be reconfigured, and the HVAC and electrical system required updating to the current building codes.

To enhance the owner’s privacy from the public spaces, the main front door was relocated from the center of the outdoor terrace to be closer to the garages and main driveway. A tall semi-opaque dividing screen wall was installed between the driveway and the outdoor entertainment area to create two separate and distinct spaces in relation to their public versus private functions. The modulation of the screen’s textural articulation provides limited views of each space while maintaining their physical distinction. The same screen system was installed on the second floor, giving privacy to the guest suite terraces above the garages and facing the main driveway. Internally, special attention was paid to reconfiguring each room to be functional and efficient with abundant storage capacity. The new material palette was selected for its neutral inflection to not compete with the owner’s vibrant and colorful artwork collection. Although simple in design with white walls, warmth was implemented with rift-cut white oak veneer utilized for the cabinetry, stained tongue and groove cypress plank ceilings spreading across the entire house, and mother-of-pearl iridescent fragments added to the custom terrazzo floor. On the contrary, darker accents of hot-rolled steel were utilized to balance tone, materiality, and texture. Finally, the HVAC system was upgraded to provide a comfortable ambient level throughout the house, and a low voltage control system was implemented to control all the lights, blinds, and speakers from wall-mounted keypads or mobile phones, ensuring the Owners have control over their environment.

Location:
Hudson Bayou | Sarasota, Florida

Status:
Completed, 2024

Landscape Architect:
DWY Landscape Architects

Photography:
© 2024 | Seamus Payne + Hive Architects Inc.