CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten // Ryan Gamma and …

FIRM // DSDG, Inc. Architects CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHERS // Ryan Gamma and Detlev Von Kessel ARCHITECT // Mark Sultana

MH MODERN HOME P R O F I L E

“We can’t just create structures using extravagantamounts of glass. We have

to find a way to cut down thecost on some of the finishes,

but still have that punch. Our clients want all that wow

and pizzazz the larger modernhomes have in a smaller, less expensive version.”

arewell, pre-recession modern McMansions. This is the age of the mini modern (residences smaller than 2,500square feet) and Mark Sultana of DSDG Architects is at the forefront of the style. “Not everyone who wantsmodern can afford a 10,000-square-foot mega-million-dollar house, but maybe they can afford one for$300,000 to $500,000,” says Sultana, a partner at his Sarasota firm along with architect Thomas Denslow.“People who can afford that don’t think they can get a one-of-a-kind modern house. I hear it all the time, ‘We’d

love to have that but we can’t afford it.’ They don’t realize that they probably can.” DSDG specializes in custom-designedhomes, commercial spaces and multi-unit residential complexes. But creating modern houses, especially with minimalfootprints and affordable price tags, is what drives Sultana. When it comes to small modern construction, “smart design”features are achieved on a budget using cost-effective finishes and materials. Hurricane-resistant impact glass, sprayfoam insulation and cabinets and appliances that cost less than imported brands are part of the package. Though the firmhandles traditional and elegant Mediterranean styles too, Sultana greatly prefers modern.

FMark Sultana, a partner at DSDG, Inc. Architects in Sarasota,creates small modern houses that leave big impressions.

Small Modern

“People are just tired of the same old same old and they want something

different. It’s important to allof our clients that the housewe’re designing for them is

one of a kind.”

“The first modern house Iever designed was one I didfor myself in 2003,” Sultanasays. “It’s really what I wastrained in school to do. If youput a sloped roof on abuilding in school, they threwyour model in the garbage. It’sbeen my passion. It’s what Ilove to do more thananything else, so being able tobring it to more people sothey can enjoy it feelsawesome to me.”

In 2010, Sultana’s firm wascommissioned to build itsfirst one-story modern housein Sarasota’s Southsidedistrict, and to keep thesquare footage between2,400 and 2,800. The budgetfor a home like this is $150 to$250 per square foot,compared to $350 to $600(the typical cost for a largemodern house). Thestructure still has to meet the

same hurricane requirementsand green codes, so Sultanafinds other areas foradjusting corners.

“It’s challenging becausewe can’t just createstructures using extravagantamounts of glass becauseglass is expensive,” Sultanasays. “We can’t do largecantilevers. We have to finda way to cut down the coston some of the finishes butstill have that punch. Ourclients want all the wow andpizzazz the larger modernhomes have in a smaller, lessexpensive version.”

One solution is to suggestpolished concrete floors orbamboo rather than usingtiles that run $10 per squarefoot. Instead of doing largeareas of extravagant,expensive finishes, Sultanawill focus on one feature wallto finish. He will tile an

accent wall in a bathroom,not the entire bathroom. Forcabinetry, Sultana will stickwith a standard rather than acustom line. Instead of 10-foot-tall sliding glass doors,he will only do eight feet.

“You don’t have the grandspaces like you have in the larger houses, so youdon’t have 24-foot highceilings; they might onlyaverage 10 to 12 feet. Thecooling of those spaces isactually much moreefficient,” Sultana says.“Electricity bills range from$60 to $120, even in thesummer. The houses all havelow-pitched roofs, which arewhite to reflect the sun andthey all have open floor plans.”

Concrete, bamboo, hurricaneglass, light-emitting diodes(LEDs), solar water heatersand aluminum or vinyl forwindow frames (rather than

MHFIRM // DSDG, Inc. Architects CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHERS // Ryan Gamma and Detlev Von Kessel ARCHITECT // Mark Sultana

16 Modern Home | 2015

MODERN HOME P R O F I L E


DSDG, Inc. Architects | 1348 Fruitville Road, Suite 204, Sarasota, 941-955-5645 dsdginc.com

MH

“We use trees native toFlorida, succulents likeagaves and cacti, low-

maintenance grass andshell aggregate or crushed

limestone. It really takes care of itself.”

high-priced woods) are someof Sultana’s go-to eco-conscious materials. Largesliding pocket glass doorsbring the outside in andclerestory windows addlightness to the entire interior.

Sultana’s small modernprojects span the local map,from South Sarasota County toLongboat Key to Punta Gorda.Sultana even created the firstLeadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED)Platinum-certified house inCharlotte County. Accordingto Sultana, homeowners are assatisfied with the décor as theyare with the savings. “People

don’t always realize that yousave a lot of money whenyou’re building a new housewith the current codes with allthe exemptions and creditsyou can get because it’s less ofa risk for the insurancecompanies,” Sultana says.“Between the savings you havein electric bills and insurance,it’s pretty sizeable. These newhouses, they’re so tight that,when you close the door, youfeel it like a vacuum.”

From the energy-efficientfeatures to the compact yetopen floor plan, the conceptseems to suit most lifestyles.

“It’s so user-friendly. It’s for

your everyday life or whenyou’re entertaining multiplepeople because it’s easy toclean and there are low-maintenance materials andyards (which is importantbecause you don’t want towaste water irrigating lawnsand end up with a huge waterbill),” Sultana says. “We usetrees native to Florida,succulents like agaves andcacti, low-maintenance grassand shell aggregate or crushedlimestone. It really takes careof itself.” Though Sarasota isknown for its modernarchitecture since the 1950s,Sultana says the modern style

has only truly regainedpopularity in the last four tofive years. He has not beenasked to do a Mediterraneanhome in three years. “I thinkpeople are just tired of thesame old same old and theywant something different. It’simportant to all of our clientsthat the house we’re designingfor them is one of a kind,”Sultana says. “It’s not like adevelopment, where you drivedown the road and you see thesame house over and over andit’s just a different color; that’snot the lifestyles the clientswant. They want somethingunique and we give them that.”

FIRM // DSDG, Inc. Architects CONTENT WRITER // Abby WeingartenPHOTOGRAPHERS // Ryan Gamma and Detlev Von Kessel ARCHITECT // Mark Sultana

2015 | Modern Home 19

g MODERNHOME


FIRM // MK Equity Corporation CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten

MHSARASOTA, FL // MK Equity Corporation


Sansara exemplifies the principles of Feng Shui and luxury modern design.

t is smartly sleek. It is Zen. It is uniquely customizable to its owner. It is SANSARA—a harbinger of the “warm contemporary”high-rise concept in downtown Sarasota. A 10-story modern mixed-use tower with 17 tailor-made three-bedroom units, Sansaracontains condos ranging from 2,650 to 6,200 total square feet that start in the low $1,000,000’s. The building, which has groundfloor commercial space, is located in the historic Burns Court district of Sarasota on South Pineapple Avenue.

Sansara is the brainchild of Matthew Kihnke—president of the Chicago, Ill.-based MK Equity Corporation—a boutiquedevelopment company that has been involved in real estate development since 1995. Kihnke currently resides in Sarasota, and

collaborated on the Sansara project with locally chosen leading edge companies. Each company was chosen for their unique qualitiesincluding exceptional standards, reputations and an unmatched level of professionalism and dedication in each of their respectiveindustries. Companies such as: Hoyt Architects, a Sarasota architecture and urban design firm; JKL Design Group, a Sarasota luxury designfirm; Kellogg and Kimsey Corporation a Sarasota based nationally recognized construction firm; and Michael Saunders & Companyleading the sales and marketing efforts.

IZen Modern

Zen Inspired Amenity Deck

FIRM // MK Equity Corporation CONTENT EDITOR // Abby Weingarten

MH

“The Sarasota luxury condominium buyer is asophisticated and educated group that comefrom all across the world, and while diversified,many have similar requirements: location, style,quality, value, customization and community.The newly retired baby boomer generation forexample is a far cry from the generation beforethem. Retirement, and in many cases earlyretirement is active, participatory and tailor-made. We seek to provide the right blend ofurban vitality and creature comforts to ourdiscerning buyers with high expectations. Theproject is large enough to provide the highestlevel of service and amenities yet small enoughto foster a boutique lifestyle community. Andwe’re proud of our value proposition that is at aprice point untouchable in this market for ourboutique luxury residences. We provide a lot oftechnology, both in every day amenities as wellas updated construction methods that providethe latest in today’s custom development.”

The building’s design is based on Feng Shui, anancient Chinese system of harmonizing a livingspace by incorporating the five elements ofwood, fire, earth, metal and water. Sansara’sflowing architectural elements were combinedto create “a peaceful refuge within the vibrancyof city life that provides a sense of tranquility,harmony and balance,” according to Kihnkeand his team. And this prototype is uniquelytailored to the Sarasota real estate market.

“Our corporate office in Chicago has beenresponsible for developing and building manyresidential mid- and high-rise developmentsthroughout Chicago. Florida was always one ofthe markets that we strove to break into.”Kihnke says. “I bought a project in Sarasotaabout 14 years ago and that was my first timeto town. I fell in love with the area and all thatit has to offer, the project was a huge successand provided me with a glimpse into thisdynamic market.”

With a quick-moving market comes quick-moving demands. Buyers in Sarasota, especiallythose with a preference for modernarchitecture, want to purchase more than aluxury private condo; they crave a luxurylifestyle with a built-in community. They don’twant to have to leave their place of residence tofind entertainment, outdoor living or relaxation.They are attracted to more resort-style living—the kind that gives them the feeling of year-round vacationing. For this, Sansara delivers.

The amenities deck at Sansara is packedwith a pool, a private spa, covered cabanas, alarge outdoor social space with a fire pit, a barand a fitness / yoga room. These commonareas boast woods, water features, naturalstone and various species of native plants.There are individual private, secured parkinggarages for residence use only.

The unique main lobby and the privatedouble elevator banks both have Asian-influenced décor themes. While the buildingmay have all the clean lines and angles as anysophisticated modern structure, its naturalaccents give it warmth, personality and vibrancy.

“I’m excited to see Sarasota return to itscontemporary/modern architectural roots indowntown. I think we’re witnessing amovement in contemporary architecture fromstark, cold and futuristically designed to warmand modern. An aesthetic that is distinguished,clean and comfortable, free of ornate design

The building’s design is based on Feng Shui, an

ancient Chinese system ofharmonizing a living space

by incorporating the fiveelements of wood, fire, earth,

metal and water.

Standard Master Bedroom



MK Equity Corporation | Matt Kihnkewww.mkequity.com | sansaracondo.com

Michael Saunders & CompanyJonathan Abrams 941-232-2868 [email protected]

and fussiness and filled with wood and stone elements that lend to a sense of peaceand tranquility.” Some features of Sansara include vibrant city and bay views; thelatest in video technology, smart house options and a retractable window wallsystem that opens onto an expansive private outdoor terrace. Each of the 17residences at Sansara have at least two and as many as four private terrace areasranging in size from 460 square feet to 2,500 square feet for the villas. ThePenthouse at Sansara has over 1,100 square feet of luxurious outdoor living.

“People can literally come in and hit one button and all the lights turn on, theblinds go up, the music can start and scents can be pumped through,” Kihnke says.In each unit there are 10-to-12-foot ceilings, 8-foot double entry doors, European-style cabinet packages, floating European-style bathroom vanities with under-mount sinks, and options for your appliance package.

“In addition we have a wide and meticulously thought out floor plan that livesmore like a home than a typical condominium. Every unit runs through the entirebuilding from East to West with the Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, SunRoom and Master Bedroom all facing towards sunsets over the Marina. All withfloor-to-ceiling retractable windows out to the expansive terraces. Each unit atSansara has at least three walls with windows and are “end units.” I spendcountless hours tweaking each floor plan so that it flows well and uses spaceoptimally. Every square foot should have a designated purpose. That doesn’tsound like a big deal but as they say, God is in the details.” Intuitive enough toaccommodate the needs of its guests and authentic to the tenants of ancientdesign methods, Sansara signals the future while saluting the past. g MODERNHOME

Typical Master Bathroom

Penthouse Terrace


uilding an ultra-modern house on spec was fairly unheard of when Nick Fergusonscooped up a waterfront lot on Siesta Key and got to work. “A house came up for salewhen the market was starting to turn,” says Ferguson, the president of NC FergusonConstruction in Sarasota. “I built and designed it on spec when nobody else was doingthat, especially for that size. Usually on spec, you would get a Mediterranean or KeyWest-style home, especially in the $2-million price range.” Ferguson purchased the

property in August 2013. The single-family home on Southport Drive (with 3,195 square feet, threebedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms) was listed at about $2.2-million when Ferguson was finished.Situated on a private road, the waterfront lot encompasses 16,325 square feet with 100 feet ofIntracoastal Waterway views and a boat dock with a 13,000-pound lift.

FIRM // NC Ferguson Construction CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // NC Ferguson Construction

MH

BSiesta Sleek



Nick Ferguson of NC Ferguson Construction envisions and creates a clean, modern spec home on Siesta Key.

“I was gearing it toward a

younger crowd;it’s laid out that

way. Forgetabout the formal

dining room.The kitchen

feeds out intothe dining room.


“I wanted something veryclean and simple withclean lines and a fair

amount of square footage,with an open living

concept, along with a lot of energy efficiency.”

FIRM // NC Ferguson Construction CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // NC Ferguson Construction

MH

The original house wasdemolished to make way fornew construction, andFerguson collaborated witharchitect John Ziemnicki ofWorld Design to begin buildingfrom the ground up. The originaladdress was prime. And after theteardown, Ferguson’s canvaswas blank—a creative’s dream.

“I hadn’t done anything thatmodern up to that point,”Ferguson says. “Even that househas kind of a transitional,modern look to the outside. I liketo mix modern things with moretraditional or transitionalthings.” The objective was toachieve the opposite look offormal, blocked-off rooms andreplace that worn-out style withmore contemporary airiness.The layout would merge theinterior with the outdoors, usingfloor-to-ceiling glass doors andlarge windows with whitefinishes to forge the illusion.

There is polished concrete throughout the mainliving area and Brazilian cherryin the two guest bedrooms. Themaster suite and spa featureFrench white oak flooring, amarble shower enclosure,custom wood cabinets (whichare also in the kitchen andother bathrooms) and granitecountertops. There is a marblewaterfall shower in thebathroom and a freestandingtub with Sherle Wagnerfixtures, spacious walk-inclosets, as well as light-emittingdiode (LED) illuminationthroughout the house.

In the living and diningroom are polished concretefloors, custom cabinets(Cambria in the kitchen in the Whitney hue), floatingshelves, a center island, andRestoration Hardware lightingand cabinet/door hardware.Outside, there are cypress

ceilings on the lanai,landscaping by ArtisTreeLandscape (including shellground cover and mud-setpavers), and a saltwater poolby Elite Weiler Pools.

This spectrum of services istypical for the 2003-foundedNC Ferguson Construction,which is a smaller boutiquecompany. Ferguson, who holdsa bachelor’s degree inconstruction management fromCentral Michigan University,prides himself on guidingcustomers through every décorselection. He providessuggestions for everything fromsubcontractors to materials,and pulls from a database thatserves clients in Sarasota,Manatee and Charlotte counties.

For the Southportresidence, he had a specifictype of client in mind duringthe design process. “The buyerI had in mind for this house

was somebody who, back in2004 or 2005, might havebought the McMansion andended up with a huge electricbill and everything that camewith having a big house—someone who basically wantedto downsize,” Ferguson says. “Iwanted something very cleanand simple with clean lines anda fair amount of squarefootage, with an open livingconcept, along with a lot ofenergy efficiency.”

Ferguson incorporatedspray foam insulation into thedesign, along with rigidinsulation on the roof. In themaster bedroom, he did anexperiment: he took the woodfloor into the bathroom andmade a tile “bathmat” to bridgethe gap between the wood andanother flooring material,allowing for a more seamlessappearance.



“It’s kind of an ‘in’ thing, having wood floors inbathrooms but, practicality-wise, it’s not so good,”Ferguson says. “We found a solution for that. Wemade the tile that was in the shower (marble) comeout so that, if you got out of the shower and neededto dry off, there would be a little area of tile whereyou could do that. That way, you wouldn’t getmoisture on the wood floor but the flooring alsowouldn’t look so broken up.”

Mathematically, the entire home’s construction isimpeccable, which is a necessity for super modernstructures. “The windows with hurricane glassliterally go from the floor to the ceiling, so it had tobe perfect. There was no room for error,” Fergusonsays. Accomplishing an indoor-outdoor flow was aparamount for Ferguson, too, and he designed theresidence to be somewhat of a “party house,” he says.

“I was gearing it toward a younger crowd; it’s laidout that way. Forget about the formal dining room.The kitchen feeds out into the dining room. You canopen up the doors and have an outdoor living areathat’s kind of all one space,” Ferguson says. “Youdefinitely get t hat Sarasota School of Architecturething here. People either love it or they hate it. Inthis case, the homeowner loves it. It worked.” g MODERNHOME

NC Ferguson Construction | 4430 Ashton Road, Suite B, Sarasota, 941-915-3246,ncfergusonconstruction.com.


SOLSTICE Architects

Architects Jonathan Parks and Christopher Arelt share insightsabout modern architecture and explain why less is not always more.

TheEssenceof ModernOur Response to Modernism

ur work is seen as a response to modernism—or more specifically—a return toregionalism and artistry, where clients’ projects are developed with the “heads,hearts and hands” of all those involved. The ideal project focuses on the craft ofconstruction, using the most up-to-date means and methods available. Most of ourbuildings explore the use of natural light in a special way while simultaneouslyrevealing the inherent beauty of the materials being used. The design direction of

each project is much more about the way of working than anything else; this allows for the finaldesigns to be innovative since nothing is preconceived. The culture of the studio and how wecollaborate with clients is an important part of our work and our history. We learned this lesson earlyon in our careers and have always given credit to our mentors for teaching us these special skills.

O

FIRM // SOLSTICE Architects CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // Greg Wilson

MHMODERN HOME P R O F I L E


Why Less Isn’t Always More

We often joke ab out how thelast year of architectureschool and the first year ofworking in the real world arealike in many ways. Youhave the same long hoursbuilding scale models andmeticulously hand drafting.The only difference is thatyou can stop asking yourparents for money. And westill remember our first yearsat Centerbrook Architectsand Planners fondly; weworked hard and enjoyedfinding humor where wecould. We also thrived onfriendly rivalries. As istypical for most youngarchitects, everyone thoughtthat the only good project inthe office was the one theywere helping to design.




SOLSTICE Architects

“Most of our buildingsexplore the use of natural

light in a special waywhile simultaneouslyrevealing the inherentbeauty of the materials

being used.”



MH

Peer pressure can be intense so you manageto find a way to amuse your co-workers whileembracing the natural competitiveness thatyou all have with each other. The source of thisamusement was the work itself—or moreaccurately—how the work was perceived. Ingood fun, a ranking system was developedwhere projects were divided into categories.The biggest problem was avoiding those thingsdeemed subjective. For example, if we reallyliked a design, we had to define what made itexceptional. Unfortunately, the morestandards we put down on paper, the moredifficult it became.

Eventually, everything seemed subjective.Being just out of graduate studies, it seemedlogical to open a few books and bring forward themost current thinking of the day. This exercisewas quickly concluded when it was evident thatformal architectural training could be summedup with the one encompassing phrase: “less ismore.” This is a perfect starting and stoppingpoint for a ranking system, unless you arepracticing architecture for a firm founded bythe great Charles W. Moore, FAIA (in whichcase, you learn quickly that “less is a bore”).Seven years of architectural training negatedby one man and one phrase.



SOLSTICE Architects | 1471 Fifth St., Sarasota, FL 941-365-5721, SOLSTICEarchitects.com.

101 Halls Rd., Old Lyme, CT 860-227-1169

Constant Levels of InteractionMr. Moore saw things differently than other architects, and he was a brilliant designer andeducator. He was able to bring as many ideas people could think of into a workable design so thatall participants genuinely felt they had a major impact on the final building (and this was the casewhether or not they actually did). The key to much of his work was having all parties collaboratefor the common goal. In the era in which Mr. Moore produced some of the worlds most innovativearchitecture, this was not at all the typical practice. Formal architectural training teaches you thatdesign, in its purest form, fulfills functional and aesthetic requirements completely, elegantly andeconomically. Yet in Mr. Moore’s office we can state that this was not how he designed. In fact, henever thought of design in this manner (at least, we personally did not see that in his approach).He had an astounding “mental rolodex” that was used as a springboard to move well beyondconventional thinking. His work soared beyond his peers, but was grounded by his genuine love forhis clients and the people involved in his buildings. How people lived and played in hisarchitecture was, to us, the most important aspect to Mr. Moore—the constant levels ofinteractions that he anticipated and designed with his clients and colleagues.

In the end, we came up with some final rankings, and our co-worker had fun with thediscussions. What was certain, however, was that we learned the most not from the work itself butfrom the man for whom we worked. g MODERNHOME

By Jonathan Parks AIA and Christopher Arelt AIA




SOLSTICE Architects

FIRM // Murray Homes CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // Mark Borosch

MH

“I think we’ve

got a very well-

rounded

understanding and

experience of the

marketplace, and

that’s vital for

understanding our

customers when

they walk through

the door.”



hat builders do with tens of millions of dollarsin Miami, Murray Homes accomplishes inSarasota-Manatee on one-tenth of the budget.Modern homes are one of the firm’s fortes,and it takes a kind of expansive-mindedexpertise to live on the cutting edge of this

trend. “We’re at the other end of the alley from Miami, wherethe average price for a home is $24 million,” says Steve Murray,the Sarasota company’s president. “We’ve got to give thatMiami perception here in town for $2 million, but the quality ofthe work really isn’t any different. My job is to think outside ofour geography to offer different imagery locally. It’s aboutevolving the thinking.” Clients seeking custom, luxurywaterfront residences enlist Murray Homes because of thishighly evolved thinking. John and Steve Murray are a Britishfather-son team with more than four decades of combinedhomebuilding experience in the United Kingdom and Florida.

They are well traveled. They have familiarized themselveswith new design techniques for years in every corner of the globe. They think far beyond the Florida box.

MURRAYMODERNW

Murray Homes stays ahead of the modern home curve, using global inspiration to create local masterpieces.

Architect John Potvin


FIRM // Murray Homes CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // Mark Borosch

MH

“I think we’ve got a verywell-rounded understandingand experience of themarketplace, and that’s vitalfor understanding ourcustomers when they walkthrough the door,” SteveMurray says. “If you come tome saying, ‘Here’s who I am.Here’s where I come from.Here are pictures of what I’dlike. Find me a lot,’ we’ll findout what makes you tick.We’ll find the land. We’llshow you budgets andarchitectural styles. We’llask the right questions todraw the right answers out.”

Steve Murray’s family-run firm (which has its ownin-house realty department)is famed for using the most

efficient technologies andbuilding materials forhistoric renovations, officebuildings, investment spechouses and individual dreamhomes. A full-service resource,the firm can identify vacant land,conduct feasibility studies,negotiate lender financing,manage budgets, assist indesign and construction andeven market and sell a property.

Steve Murray previouslyoperated a constructioncompany in London,England during the 1990sbefore moving to Sarasotaand starting Murray Homes.He joined forces with hisrealtor wife, Bev, andbrought Murray Realty underthe company’s umbrella.

Steve Murray has built morethan 100 new and remodeledhomes, and he hascoordinated the bidding,billing and subcontracting foreach project.

“We’re a boutique realtycompany that specializes inwaterfront homes as well,which is unique. I’ve been arealtor since 2000. My wife ismy broker,” Steve Murraysays. “We do upper-endconstruction and, for clientswho want that, we really doeverything for them.”

To maintain this one-stop identity, Murray Homeshas amassed a rock-soliddatabase of recommendedsubcontractors. The mainentities the firm collaborateswith are: Michael A. GilkeyInc. Landscape Architects & Contractors, Pool Design Concepts, FergusonShowroom (kitchen andbath), Architectural MarbleImporters, Cucine Ricci(kitchens), Mullet’s Appliancesand Wicked Smart Homes(home theater systems).

Inside a Murray Homesmodern structure, state-of-the-art green features arestandard, and nontraditionalacute and obtuse angles(instead of typical rightangles) are signatures. Themodern, abstract, angular,geometric look is evidentthroughout the MurrayHomes footprint, especiallyin the cabinetry and kitchen islands.

“We do timelesscontemporary designs—modern homes that aren’tfad houses—so that, forinvestment purposes, theywould still be marketable and

sellable in 15 to 20 years. Youcan’t pigeonhole yourself sofar in left field that you can’tsell it,” Steve Murray says.

These days, Murray Homes clients are buyinghouses in areas like Bird Key,Longboat Key and HarborAcres, spending upwards of$2.5 million per lot, and theyneed houses that will havelongevity. Murray Homes isalso expanding intoLakewood Ranch with awarm, universally appealingBritish West Indies-styleprototype that will likely bebeloved for years to come.

Murray Homes has found a way to do modernwithout alienating any clientbases and to roll with theever-evolving décor tides.

“In the past six or sevenyears, the local marketplacehas gotten a bigger desire formodern. Pre-recession, 95percent of all architecturegoing up was what peoplehad seen before. There wasthe Spanish Med, thetraditional, a little bit ofcoastal, some Key West,”Steve Murray says. “Thenthere was the occasionalmodern house. You’d seethis beautiful house go upand it would sit on themarketplace because therewere no buyers for it.”

Inferior designs wererampant for years. Then thebubble burst, the developershad to hand the keys to thebanks, and the vacantbuildings begged fortransformation. MurrayHomes took over. “Therecession affected the desirefor modern enormously.Before that, every piece of



Murray Homes | 25 S. Osprey Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236 ,

941-906-7000, murrayhomesinc.com

land was being picked up by adeveloper or a buyer withmoney,” Steve Murray says.

“As someone with moneylooking to invest, you don’t go to the most expensive,most extreme architect togive you the best design. Yougo with someone who can

knock it out really cheaplyand give you as manybedrooms as they can so youcan make the biggest profit.That has all changed.” Now,design is in demand. Modernis leading the movement. AndMurray Homes is ready. g MODERNHOME

“We do timeless

contemporary

designs–modern

homes that

aren’t fad

houses–so that,

for investment

purposes, they

would still be

marketable and

sellable in 15 to

20 years.”

Architect Rick Arieno


FIRM // Apex-Studio Suarez CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // Mark Borosch and Apex-Studio Suarez

MH

“My father was bornin Cuba and grew up

in Puerto Rico. Mysister, Ana, and I

were born in PuertoRico and moved tothe states when we

were 8 and 10. So wewere all heavily

influenced byCaribbean architec-

ture—a lot of rawmaterials, woods,

exposed concrete.”

THE HEARTOF MODERN



ith deep cultural roots in the Caribbean, the team at Apex-Studio Suarez offers awholehearted approach to modern architec-ture in Southwest Florida—one that is natural,fluid and holistic. Each design tells a story.Each eco-conscious feature elicits an emotion.

“My father was born in Cuba and grew up in Puerto Rico. My sister, Ana, and I were born in Puerto Rico and moved to the states when we were 8 and 10. So we were all heavily influ-enced by Caribbean architecture—a lot of raw materials, woods,exposed concrete,” says Javi Suarez, who is a principal at theSarasota firm alongside his father, Javier Suarez. “While we’reinfluenced by the mid-century modern movement—which is typically very streamlined, sleek and white—we also do what we call more of a ‘warm contemporary.’”

“Warm contemporary,” to the Suarez team, means bringing in the basic elements of the earth—wood, water, fire and air—and using everything from courtyard water features to new ventilation techniques to do so. In other words, Apex-StudioSuarez thinks outside of the plain white box. Though theSuarezes have completed several modern buildings that fall

W

Father-and-son architecture team Javier and Javi Suarez of Apex-StudioSuarez add warmth, depth and heart to modern designs.


FIRM // Apex-Studio Suarez CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // Mark Borosch and Apex-Studio Suarez

MH

within the traditional param-eters, they relish the oppor-tunity to add more creativelayers to their designs.

They accomplish this withthe help of their in-houseinterior design company,Apex-Studio Santa Maria,which is the brainchild ofAna Santa Maria (sister toJavi Suarez and daughter toJavier Suarez). Both Apex-Studio Santa Maria andApex-Studio Suarez werelaunched as boutique firmsin 2009 and, together, theyprovide a one-stop destina-tion for their clients.

“There is a perception, Ithink, about architecturefirms, that there is either a

design firm or a service firm,that you either get one or theother,” Javi Suarez says. “Wepride ourselves on bringingboth to the table.”

The “table,” so to speak, at Apex-Studio, is alwaysrife with diverse thinkers,both from the firm and thecommunity. Javier Suarezdraws from more than 40years of experience as anarchitect and urban design-er, and provides invaluableinsights about structure andpracticality. Javi Suarez’sbackground in fine artaffords him an artistic per-spective, which comple-ments Santa Maria’s experti-sein interior design.

“As Javier says, we have a great partnership becausehe pushes me to think aboutthings a certain way and Ipush him, and we come to a middle with the client,” Javi Suarez says.

With this bevy ofstrengths, the family makes it easy for a client to relay avision and have it preciselyexecuted. “We do a lot ofmeetings with our clients,trying to get an idea of whatthey want. We ask questionslike, ‘What do you like aboutthis or that?’ rather than try-ing to imitate a picture. Wewant to accommodate theirlifestyle,” Javier Suarez says.“A lot of clients don’t reallyknow what they want andothers bring us 30 magazines.So you need to digest thatand figure out what theywant when they might not beable to express it.”

Sometimes, it is as nebu-lous as “I want my home tofeel like . . .” and it is up toApex-Studio to finish thesentence. Clients are notalways on board with themodern architecture theymay have seen in magazines,and Apex-Studio is knownfor giving the standard look amore universal appeal.

“A lot of people like modern architecture (and we love it too and we’vedone a lot of it) but somepeople find it a little cold,”Javier Suarez says. “So whenyou take that modern styleand give it a little bit ofwarmth, people say, ‘This, I kind of like.’”

They like the feeling ofwalking a thin line betweenliving inside and outside. Inan Apex-Studio home, the

edge of the property mighthave a one-of-a-kind accentsuch as a reflecting pool(even right in the front of the house).

“We like to use tropicalelements and give a home thefeeling of being in a tropicalforest,” Javier Suarez says.“We might put in a reflectingpool with a fountain so youhear the water falling all thetime. Wherever you are in the house, you’re hearing the noise of the water.”

For inland homes, thisconcept of blurring the linebetween the interior andexterior is a popular one. The same is true for beach-front properties, thoughApex-Studio has been knownto take a water view to anentirely new level. Such wasthe case in one particularBird Key residence.

“For this house on BirdKey, which was on the water,the client said, ‘I’m not big onwalking into the house andhaving a view of the oceanright away. I want it to be aprogression. I want it to be alittle peak here, and whenyou get to a certain point,boom, you get this expansiveview,’” Javi Suarez says.

“Sometimes, a client mightnot know what they wanttheir house to look like, butthey might have an idea ofwhat they want it to feel like,or what they want the experi-ence of arrival to feel like.”

Apex-Studio knows howto take a feeling or aninstinct and turn it into awildest-dream reality.

“With modern, we havethat contemporary viewpointout there that focuses on therational and always having a



Apex-Studio Suarez and Apex-Studio Santa Maria | 200 S. Washington Boulevard #3, Sarasota, 941-366-8222, apex-studio.com.

reason for the decisions thatyou make,” Javi Suarez says.“But the other layer I person-ally push for is the subcon-scious layer—using the thingsthat come naturally, things

“We like to use tropical

elements andgive a home thefeeling of beingin a tropical for-

est. We mightput in a reflect-

ing pool with a fountain soyou hear thewater falling all the time.”

you can’t necessarily rational-ly define, but are certain gutfeelings you have about aproject, feelings that comefrom years of experience thatjust work.” g MODERNHOME


FIRM // Jake Brady Concrete By Design CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // Ryan Gamma

MH

“If you can dream it, we canbuild it. Your only limitation

is your imagination. “

ConcreteKing

hen the regional housing market shifted andbecame ready for a more modern mindset,Jake Brady was standing by. “In the past fiveyears, the trend went from the Mediterranean,Tuscan, beat-up, acid-stained look to beingvery clean, linear, industrial, modern,” says

Brady, who owns Jake Brady Concrete By Design in Sarasota.“And that’s what I do.” A native of Nova Scotia, Canada, Bradymoved south in 1997 and started a Sarasota-based homeremodeling business. A decade later, he changed careertrajectories, inspired by the book “Concrete Countertops:Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath” byFu-Tung Cheng (Taunton Press, 2004). “I was good atremodeling houses on Longboat and Siesta Key, but I got tired ofthat and I wanted to have my own studio. Concrete is outsidethe box. It’s something clients can really be involved in theprocess of,” Brady says. “They can custom match a color to aswatch of fabric, get their hands dirty, put glass aggregate intothe mold, be involved. It’s an interactive experience and it’s fun.”

To become a concrete expert, Brady trained at the ConcreteCountertop Institute in Raleigh, N.C., learning about wet-castand glass-fiber-reinforced concrete techniques. Today, hecreates handmade, custom residential and commercialfeatures—from architectural concrete accents to functional artpieces—all with eco-conscious, durable concrete. When hisconcrete infatuation began, it was a fairly obscure concept tothe local consumer but that has since changed dramatically.

W



Jake Brady Concrete By Design carves out its niche as theauthority on concrete features for the upscale modern home.

“Now that I’ve done a lot of commercial projects,people will have dined somewhere where I’vedone a fire table or a huge bar, and they will

contact me and say they want something similar.”

FIRM // Jake Brady Concrete By Design CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten PHOTOGRAPHER // Ryan Gamma

MH

“The big change I seelately is that the consumer iscoming to me moreeducated to begin withwhereas, in the first years, Ihad to explain what concretewas about and how theycould even use it,” Bradysays. “Now, homeowners arecoming to me knowing that’swhat they want and theirminds are already made up.I’ve also developed areputation for being good at it.”

He is known for hisoutdoor benches, fire tables,planters, pillars, waterfeatures and sculpture bases,as well as his indoor designslike countertops, diningroom tables, conferencetables, concierge stations,vanity tops, sinks, showerpanels and fireplaces. Bradyincorporates recycled glass,wood, shells, rocks and leafprints into his designs.

His motto is, “If you candream it, we can build it.Your only limitation is yourimagination.”

While Brady is a modernhome décor master, hisdesigns are not limited toone genre. He has doneeverything from traditional,rustic, romantic and retrostyles to French country,Italian, Asian, Victorian andart deco installations.Precision is Brady’s M.O. and he has honed the rareability to estimate, measureand pour perfect angles.

“It’s about measuring 18times and pouring once. You

wake up at night wondering ifyou’ve measured somethingright,” Brady says. “You try toallow for a certain margin oferror. Errors certainly don’thappen as much as they did inthe beginning. You get itdown to a science.”

His reputation for accuracyhas taken him fromWashington, D.C. to MiamiBeach. He was recentlycommissioned to partner with awell known bronze sculptor tofabricate a large red concretetowel as the base for aWestern Kentucky Universitymascot, which is nowprominently displayed in theWKU Student Center.

“Now that I’ve done a lot ofcommercial projects, peoplewill have dined somewherewhere I’ve done a fire table ora huge bar, and they willcontact me and say they wantsomething similar,” Bradysays. Brady has collaboratedon residential projects such as a Guy Peterson-designed

house on Longboat Key withhigh-end concrete sinks.Commercially, Brady madethe planters, dining tables andfire tables for Social Eatery &Bar in downtown Sarasota. Heprovided the finishing toucheson an outdoor kitchen for awaterfront home on Bird Key.He has even been asked tomake a 28-foot-long pondentirely out of concrete with acentral fire feature. Bradyaccommodates even the mostnontraditional requests.

“Recently, the owner of apenthouse on Longboat Keywanted polished concrete floorsbut they couldn’t do it thetraditional way because theyneeded sound proofing(because they live in a high-risewith people below),” Brady says.“So I thought, why can’t wemake a floor tile and install thatover the soundproofing so thehomeowner could still havetheir polished concrete floors?The homeowner wouldn’t haveto make any sacrifices that way.

We could make that happen.”It is this type of challenge thatstimulates Brady’s creativespirit. Another scenario thatrecently pushed him to beinventive occurred whenclients on Casey Keyrequested a one-of-a-kindwater feature in the studyshaft of their mansion.

“It’s called the study shaftbecause the study goes up anddown four floors. The foyercomes up through a glass box.In the back of the house, offthe master bedroom, is thestudy, and it’s on a lift. Whenyou’re on the fourth floor, it’sthe highest point on CaseyKey you can see downtownSarasota,” Brady says. “Off tothe side of this, there is athree-foot by three-foot by 1.5-foot niche, and they want meto do a water feature in therethat’s 20 feet tall. That’s thekind of thing I enjoy doing.Every day for me is different.”g MODERNHOME



Jake Brady Concrete By Design | 614 Florida Ave., Sarasota, 941-312-5993, jakebradyconcrete.com

Shower panels,vanity and anintegral rampsink showcasehow concretecan make abathroom lookvery crisp andpolished.


Documents

CONTENT WRITER // Abby Weingarten // Ryan Gamma and …