Hello Again, Umbrella House
Famous example of Sarasota Modernism is getting its forward-thinking shade back
In the early 1950s, property developer Philip Hiss teamed up with architect Paul Rudolph to create one of the 20th century's most iconic houses, the Umbrella House in Sarasota, Fla. The house in the community of Lido Shores is an example of how modernism can be applied in a subtropical, Florida Gulf Coast context. This home and others nearby became known as the Sarasota School of Modernism.
Built as a "spec" house, the Umbrella House measures about 2,000 square feet and is built on a 32-inch module, the width of a standard Sears jalousie window. The dominant feature of the house, the aptly named "umbrella," was originally built of wood and used to shade the house from the intense Florida sun. After years of decay and hurricane damage, the "umbrella" was all but gone by the end of the 1970s.
New owners Vincent and Julie Ciulla of Ciulla Design have restored much of the umbrella, this time building it of aluminum. The Ciullas say the umbrella screens the house so well that their cooling bills have been reduced by 30 percent, a testament to Rudolph's forward-looking and sustainable design.
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Built as a "spec" house, the Umbrella House measures about 2,000 square feet and is built on a 32-inch module, the width of a standard Sears jalousie window. The dominant feature of the house, the aptly named "umbrella," was originally built of wood and used to shade the house from the intense Florida sun. After years of decay and hurricane damage, the "umbrella" was all but gone by the end of the 1970s.
New owners Vincent and Julie Ciulla of Ciulla Design have restored much of the umbrella, this time building it of aluminum. The Ciullas say the umbrella screens the house so well that their cooling bills have been reduced by 30 percent, a testament to Rudolph's forward-looking and sustainable design.
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The umbrella dominates the north side of the house, facing the street. This view clearly shows the vertical columns of jalousie windows and establishment of the 32-inch module used to plan the house. Translucent at the ground floor for privacy, these jalousies allow for a significant amount of cross ventilation.
What I especially love about the umbrella is the way the shadows from it fall across the face of the house. The pattern is like the darkened portions of so many of Rudolph's drawings.
What I especially love about the umbrella is the way the shadows from it fall across the face of the house. The pattern is like the darkened portions of so many of Rudolph's drawings.
The restored umbrella floats above the house. Though Rudolph would later became one of the prime practitioners of Brutalism, his Sarasota houses have a light and almost impermanent quality, as if the whole thing could be rapidly disassembled and moved.
The columns that support the umbrella are articulated and independent of the house structure. It's as if a large open-air tent was built and a box placed under it.
The house features a "dumbbell" plan with a two-story space along the back flanked by stacked bedrooms on one side and a kitchen with second-floor bedroom on the other. The bridge that connects the two upstairs bedrooms is a loft area and is a few steps lower than the bedroom level. This creates a very low ceiling at the entry area which is very Wrightian in feel. The conversation pit with fireplace and hearth is below this loft. It's as if one must enter a cave to get close to the fire.
Each bedroom overlooks the main living space. These windows can be closed off for privacy. The bedrooms also feature built-in wardrobes that jut out into the main living space to form shelves for art and a television.
Each bedroom overlooks the main living space. These windows can be closed off for privacy. The bedrooms also feature built-in wardrobes that jut out into the main living space to form shelves for art and a television.
Here's a photo of the home as it was under construction. Though no one knows for certain, It's believed that Paul Rudolph took the photo, which is from the south-southwest and shows the full umbrella as originally conceived. Lido Shores is a very different place now with a lot more vegetation, houses and traffic.
Here's a vintage photo of the original, Rudolph-designed fence that surrounded the property. The Ciullas are restoring this fence as part of the overall restoration of the house.
Read more about the house and restoration on the Umbrella House website and Facebook page.
More:
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Read more about the house and restoration on the Umbrella House website and Facebook page.
More:
Houzz Tour: Warm, Modern Florida Getaway
Modern or Contemporary: What's the Difference?
Glass Box Architecture Endures
More regional modern design
The spatial organization of the house can also be seen here. A large, two-story center space is flanked by two stacked bedrooms on the left and a kitchen with bedroom above on the right. The 32-inch module of the off-the-shelf jalousie windows is also evident.