J+E House Wins AIA Merit Award

The J+E House, aka the Light Box House, designed by Jonathan Parks Architects (JPA), was recognized by The American Institute of Architect’s Tampa Bay Chapter on November 6, 2014 at their Annual Design Awards and honored with the Merit Award for Architecture – Residential Category.

The Jury said the Light Box House is a “beautiful light-filled home with unique spatial qualities,” and that they enjoyed the use of white as a 'canvas' for the art collection display.

The Light Box House has received other accolades, most recently the Grand Aurora Award in the category of Custom Home (One of a Kind) at the Aurora Awards in August.

Located on a irregular quarter acre lot, the design challenge was to create a comfortable living space within a compact plan on an oddly-angled, trapezoidal lot. This unembellished design blurs the boundaries between inside and out using natural light to make the living area seem extraordinarily open while still maintaining a sense of privacy. Large expanses of glass and transom windows allow for abundant natural light throughout the day. The floor plan is divided north and south, wrapping around the pool. The entrance bridge is bordered by water on the east and exterior overhangs and covered terraces outside the main living spaces continue the aesthetic cohesion. The 3,460 sq. foot house design transforms a difficult site into a home that flows with ease.