Big Turnout for Summer Lido Architecture Tour

1235 Center Place

A mini-multitude of Sarasota Modern architecture buffs turned out on a muggy Wednesday night June 29, to get a first hand look at two of Lido Shore's latest home construction projects.  The tours, organized by the Florida Gulf Coast AIA featured two gems: David and Linda Hargreaves' home at 1325 Westway Drive and Janet Minker and Elliott Himelfarb's home at 1235 Center Place.

Construction on both properties is moving along briskly.  The windows and stucco are going in and up at the Minker-Himelfarb's new home designed by Jonathan Parks.  A water feature and pool greets visitors as they step inside the well thought out front entrance.

The house is comprised of two pods — one with common areas and the other, bedrooms — joined by a glass connector with 14' ceilings. The structure is highly energy efficient, with insulation inside the masonry blocks and a foam roof, high-efficiency insulated glass, and solar-heated water for the house and pool.  A trio of Park's devotees were overheard gushing about the intriguing layout and the pleasant surprises they encountered around every corner.

Inviting water feature greets visitors

Minker-Himelfarb's glass-lined pool area

Street view of the Hargreaves' new home

Meantime, over at the Hargreaves' on Westway, Architect Mark Sultana held court, pointing out the two separate structures for living and guest quarters, joined by a skywalk and featuring a narrow lap pool in the center courtyard.

Just approved 11' 4" sliding doors line the New Pass view, that also features what the Hargreaves' are calling a "DiCaprio" point — a promontory that juts out from the deck that they say emulates the bow of a ship (à la in the movie Titanic).  The garage doors will even be made of high-performance milk colored glass.

A  "Dicaprio Point" outdoor viewing area overlooks New Pass

A roof top terrace of bamboo and artificial turf will tower above the 6400 total square foot structures.  Sultana said the home might be available for touring again closer to completion.  Thanks to Elliott and Janet and to David and Linda for allowing behind the scenes access to inquiring neighbors and architecture aficionados.

Touring the interior at 1325 Westway Drive