Florida Modern

'Florida Modern' presents a compelling case for tropical modern architecture Between 1941 and 1966, Florida became host to sweeping innovations in residential architecture. 'Florida Modern' presents the best work of this era, from Key West to Jacksonville, documenting numerous unsung and unpublished masterpieces by such architects as Paul Rudolph, Gene Leedy, and Rufus Nims.

With today's widespread resurgence of interest in Mid-Century Modernism, the houses appear as fresh and contemporary as they did over fifty years ago and many have been preserved as they were originally built. While these houses found their inspiration in part from the philosophies of the Bauhaus, they were quick to incorporate aspects of regional Southern architecture, using verandas, porches, and raised floors to open out to tropical vegetation, and more importantly, cooling breezes.

The appeal of many of these homes is the blurring of indoors and outdoors, the connection to the natural environment, and, perhaps even more so today, the eco-conscious spirit that favoured local materials and natural ventilation.