This custom house sits on a very narrow lot on Manatee River in Bradenton, Fla. The owner of the house is an architect and drew up the design for his house by hand.
The owner was able to design a house that was long and skinny in order to get the most out of the lot. The house is separated into two wings: the living quarters, which include the kitchen, living room and dining room, and the sleeping quarters, which include the bedrooms, bathrooms, media room, office and stairwell. Dividing the spaces up into two sections allowed for tall, vaulted ceilings in the living spaces while creating unique, practical sleeping quarters.
The idea of the design was for the front of the property to transition seamlessly through to the back. This was accomplished by having a walking path start before the entrance and continue through the house between the two sections and carry on all the way into the backyard.
Architect/Designer | MKC Architects
Builder | Ross Built LLC
Landscape Architect/Designer | Michael A. Gilkey, Inc
Photographer | Ryan Gamma Photography
Judges’ Comments | The front exterior of this home showcases an interesting composition of materials, and the entry in particular is neat because it passes through a courtyard, which can also be accessed from the dining room. The back of the home takes advantage of its location with an attractive pier design, including cozy outdoor living spaces and an upper-level deck adjacent to the office.