BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGN Architect: Echt Architects Contractor: Ryan Perrone Builder: Nautilus Homes Landscape: Hazeltine Nurseries Pool: Siesta Pools Photographer: Ryan Gamma Photography Other: BMMI, Native Sun Painting, Gator Plumbing, Black Jack Air & Mechanical, Direct Window & Door Supply.
COURTYARD HOUSE NAU T I LU S H O ME S GOLD
The Courtyard House—a classic Sarasota School of Architecture, Jack West home—was designed to be all about the slow reveal. With this idea in mind, a private enclosed courtyard captivated this intrigue at the front entry. A!er its original build as a spec home in 1965, the courtyard was demolished, but in this renovation, the homeowner wanted to pay homage to the original design intent. In 2019, Echt Architects and Hazeltine Nurseries redesigned the landscaping and additional architectural facade elements to honor that same unhurried divulgence. This original objective was reborn by creating a water feature with stepping stones and a singular perfectly placed topiary at the front entry, giving rise to a feeling of serenity before entering the home. From the privacyprotecting Clusia hedges to the Montgomery palm–lined driveway to the earthy wooden ba"ens at the front entry, the space feels secluded yet welcoming and spacious for guests. The home never had a pool originally; however, it is married so naturally with the space that it doesn’t seem it could have ever gone without. The crisp white pavers against the Caribbean blue pool are reminiscent of the sands of Siesta Key Beach against the lapping waves of the Gulf. The water is hugged by a flush firepit to create a zen balance of the elements. The pool is surrounded by an outdoor dining area with swaying palms situated to provide shade where needed, a bar for easy outdoor entertainment and a cozy sunken wood-burning firepit area that leads down to the dock. The Sarasota School of Architecture keeps Florida’s subtropical climate and easy indoor–outdoor lifestyle at the forefront. With these upgrades to the iconic Courtyard House, we were able to preserve the historic intent and integrity while creating a modern and mindful experience at the home.
OSPREY LANDING BORDEN LANDSCAPE DESIGN S I LV E R
This warm, modern home rests is in a canopied Whitfield neighborhood with views of Sarasota Bay. As relaxed as it is sophisticated, the landscape enveloping the residence allows children to play, adults to gaze and visitors to feel truly awed and welcomed into the home. The great recreational lawn in the rear yard, surrounding the swimming pool and spa, provides not only a great surface for walking or running around on, but also helps to frame the bay’s views as a beautiful flat plane of zoysia grass, reinforced by the graceful native sabal palms and longleaf pines. The front entry gardens, the most welcoming feature of the property, contain a variety of carefully selected tropical plantings, succulents and natural stones along with a pathway that enhances the architectural expression. It serves as a wonderful intermediate experience between the front lawn and vehicular areas to the entrance of the home. Strategically placed trees provide canopy above, and an unusual variety of specimen palms and other plantings provide visual interest. The expansive linear front lawn is punctuated by a single pink floss silk tree and bordered by a thoughtful composition of pink lantana and lush ground cover. Closer to the home are a series of dracaenas and giant iris, dramatically lit at night. The panelized concrete walkway contains linear grassed joints that allow the lawn to extend through the concrete and capture rainwater as it flows down the drive during storm events. At the request of the homeowner, large canopy trees and other buffering plant material were provided along the southern edge to shield the side yard from a sometimes harsh summer sun and roadway traffic. The overall composition achieves a stunning series of unique spaces that entices the individual to enjoy every space within the landscape. Architect: DSDG Architects Builder: Josh Wynne Construction Landscape Design: Borden Landscape Design Landscape: Earth Works Landscape Management Photographer: Ryan Gamma Photography
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