Hiss Residence, Modernist residence in Sarasota, United States.
The Hiss Residence is a modernist house in Sarasota featuring glass walls, vaulted interior heights, and a latticed roof structure covering the main living areas. Louvered windows and shading devices throughout the design work together to manage air circulation and heat in the subtropical environment.
Architect Paul Rudolph designed this house from 1953 to 1954 as a demonstration home for a planned residential development. The project became an important example of modernist thinking applied to subtropical housing design.
The residence reflects how international modernist principles merged with tropical living practices in mid-century Florida. Visitors can observe how open floor plans and connections to the outdoors shaped the way people imagined living in this climate.
The property has multiple levels and transitions between interior and exterior spaces that invite closer exploration. Understanding how windows and shading were positioned will help you appreciate the design choices as you move through the rooms.
A towering latticed roof structure 17 feet (5 m) high covers both the house and swimming pool, effectively extending the living space outdoors. This bold feature demonstrates how Rudolph completely reimagined the boundary between interior and exterior zones.
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