One of the most intriguing aspects of Sarasota is its rich architectural history. At JTL Studios, we honor the legacy that built this city and continue to contribute to the tapestry of design and culture that makes this place so special.

Sarasota County’s eclectic architectural landscape is represented by standing structures and decorative elements dating back over 100 years —from wood-frame pioneer homes to the world-famous Sarasota Modern style that still influences contemporary architectural designs. In fact, Sarasota remains a trend-maker in Florida’s architectural scene.  Historically, local buildings were greatly influenced by the balmy climate, the Mediterranean flair brought in during the 1920s Florida Land Boom, and the diverse artistic ethos that inspired our modern structures.

Although by no means a complete guide to all the architecture there is to see in Sarasota, we can get you started with an overview of some of the history, design styles, and notable sites that make up the unique architectural landscape of Sarasota County today.

Did You Know? The Bidwell-Wood House in Sarasota’s Pioneer Park is Sarasota’s oldest standing homestead, built in 1882. The Worth’s Block building, a downtown Sarasota landmark currently housing The Gator Club, is one of the first fireproof brick buildings constructed on Main Street in 1912, a fact that explains it being one of the only structures to survive a major fire that devastated the town in 1915.

 

The ‘Florida Land Boom’ of the 1920s was Florida’s first significant real estate bubble and brought America’s wealthiest developers to town – including Owen Burns and the circus magnate Ringling Brothers. Their Mediterranean Revival style of architecture came to characterize the new city. Modeled after European seaside palaces, Mediterranean Revival architecture integrates elements of the Venetian Gothic, Italian, and Spanish Renaissance styles, Beaux-Arts, and the Spanish Colonial. One of the most prominent examples of this architectural style is John Ringling’s Venetian Gothic mansion, Ca d’Zan, or ‘House of John’, a five-story mansion built on Sarasota Bay in 1926.

In downtown Sarasota, notable buildings such as the Sarasota Opera House and the County Courthouse feature ‘Med-Rev’-style ornamental wrought iron, terra cotta tiling, and barreled Spanish roof tiles.

Post-Boom Building Trends

After the Great Depression and World War II, residential architecture for the normal Sarasotan’s lifestyle included American Craftsman sturdy and utilitarian bungalows, still seen in Laurel Park, Towles Court, and Gillespie Park. Under the F.D.R. administration, WPA projects included the Art-Deco Sarasota Municipal Auditorium and the Neoclassical Revival Federal Building in downtown Sarasota, constructed as a U.S. Post office in 1932.

With all these influences, no era was quite so regionally influential in Sarasota architecture as the midcentury Sarasota Modern movement, also known as the Sarasota School of Architecture. Famous architects, including Paul Rudolph, Ralph Twitchell, Philip Hiss, Victor Lundy, Jack West, William Rupp, and Tim Seibert, led the nationally renowned movement. Sarasota Modern architecture is primarily characterized by its relationship with the Florida climate and environment. Innovative cross-ventilation systems, generous shaded overhangs, floating staircases, and glass dividers that blurred the line between interior and exterior spaces were all among the hottest design trends.

Iconic buildings of this era include:

Of note is the Herald Tribune Media Headquarters, constructed in 2006 in downtown Sarasota, which borrowed heavily from the city’s Modern Design influences.

Contemporary SRQ Architecture

Throughout its colorful history, Sarasota architecture has always been defined by its environment, and contemporary designers and developers continue to showcase the beauty of our natural surroundings, the semitropical climate and coastal breezes, and abundant sunshine.

If you are looking to build a home or commercial space that honors our rich architectural legacy, call the professionals at JTL Studios. We combine Sarasota’s history and contemporary inspiration to create gorgeous and innovative designs.