Tropical Modern Design: An Architectural Style Solution just right for Florida

As many of us are rethinking our perceptions of what is essential, we see similar rethinking and adjustments in building design.

Prospective clients ask for buildings less extravagant and more personal than the oversized sealed boxes of recent decades. They’re searching for something more appropriate for themselves and their lifestyle, and — especially here in Florida — design that works for our year-round summer environment.

What is the Architectural Solution for Florida’s subtropics?

One of the more enduring solutions — a climate-sensitive architectural style called “Tropical Modern” — has been explored since the 1950s.

The common thread of all Tropical Modern design is the acknowledgement that the sun is hot.

Often seen in the architecture of Asia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean, the style has been successfully experimented with in many resorts on the east coast of Florida and new condominiums in Miami.

However, despite the suitability of Tropical Modern building design to our subtropical environment in Southwest Florida, few regional architects have considered this approach here.

Tropical Modern works for a variety of structures with different uses, including commercial, residential, and resorts. Although an innovative building style, elements of traditional architecture of a region can be easily identified. Yet it is distinguished from the local vernacular by subtly fusing the positive aspects of the historical with modern architectural vocabulary and materials.

What is Tropical Modern Architecture?

These buildings are designed to be a natural defense against the harsh elements of the tropics and subtropics, while maximizing the advantage of living in a warm and sunny environment.

Symmetry is not a priority in Tropical Modern design. Instead, every building component, i.e. walls, doors and windows, can be purposefully located. The result is a fluidity of space and light flowing in, out and around. This is demonstrated in five of the hallmark features of Tropical Modern architecture:

1. Light - Water, exterior courtyards, open floor plans, white surfaces reflecting the sun and shade are consistent elements of Tropical Modern.

2. Shade - Creating protective shade is paramount. Deep porches, extra-wide eaves, verandas, covered walks, lanais and canopies are incorporated to offset the heat. Shelter from the sun also means shelter from summer rains. 

3. Ventilation & Views - Encouraging cross-breezes is a critical component of the design. Strategically located windows and large sliding doors facilitate ventilation while providing transparency, views and daylight.

4. Seamless Space - Living areas extend outside onto porches, gardens and breezeways, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor space.

5. Simple & Natural - Tropical Modern differs from the traditional by incorporating simple clean lines. And unadorned details are made richer — inside and out — by combining sensuous local materials with metal, stucco, glass and dark woods. 

Critically, Tropical Modern architectural design effortlessly integrates itself into the landscape and creates a harmonious relationship with nature. Architecture and landscape merge. Here’s a look at how we have incorporated these features into many of our architectural design projects:

1. Light: Colorful skies and coastal water blues reflect in the windows and off the clean white exterior of this Sanibel Island Coastal Retreat. The ever-changing quality of light provides an essential element of this design, transforming from the sunny reflections of day to the crystal glow of night.

2. Shade: A methodical design of extra-wide overhangs and deep porches provides this Sanibel Bungalow with shelter from the sun and rain. The careful selection and placement of windows and glass doors invite natural light indoors with the cool comfort of shade.

3. Ventilation & Views: Villa Captiva’s strategically located, expansive windows and sliding glass doors provide cross-ventilation, promote a seamless flow from indoors to outdoors, and frame stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. The result is a quiet sanctuary where interiors, art, architecture, and life effortlessly blend.

4. Seamless Space: Living areas extend through expansive sliding glass doors into gardens, onto pool decks, and beyond. With a design that provide a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor space, this Sanibel island home embraces its lush environment.

5. Simple & Natural: Embracing its natural environment, this beachfront Sanibel Island retreat, emphasizes modern clean lines and simple details with the contrast of light and dark and a rich combination of materials and textures.

Tropical Modern Architecture for Southwest Florida

This design style is an especially appealing architectural response to the subtropical climate and lush vegetation of Southwest Florida.

Florida Modernism of the mid-century explored similar ideas. Looking back at this style and the climate-friendly Florida Cracker structures, it is possible to glean their most successful elements and integrate them with current architectural principles and eco-conscious technology for naturally tropical designs.

In many hot and humid climates, the evolution of Tropical Modern architecture has exploded into a responsive building style that is garnering international attention for being energy-efficient and sensitive to the environment.

Ironically, Tropical Modern is not new here. In the late ’70s and ’80s, this style was explored on the islands and still looks fresh and contemporary today.

It is a design style we embrace at Architecture Joyce Owens as we explore the possibilities of integrating building and landscape, blending the old with the new. The outcome? A refreshing architectural solution that is responsive to its place, and undoubtedly of its time.

Joyce Owens, FAIA RIBA

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A previous version of this article appeared in Joyce Owen’s “Architect About Town” column in the Fort Myers News-Press