Our beautiful home is for sale.
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| 1235 Center Place, Lido Shores, Sarasota, FL |
4 Beds - 3 Full Baths - 1 Half Bath - 3,774 Sq. Ft - 2012 Built - 0.32 Acre Lot
An icon of modern design in the style of the world-renowned Sarasota School of Architecture, 1235 Center Place combines award-winning pedigree with exceptional luxury in a setting that is as coveted for its natural beauty and access to amenities as for its storied mid-century and modern estates.
Known as the ‘Light Box House’ for its use of glass walls to showcase courtyard and exterior views, this home was custom built in 2012 by the current owners to foster both idyllic privacy and elevated hospitality. Designed by architect Jonathan Parks FAIA, the home has been widely celebrated for its design, winning the AIA Tampa Bay Merit Award for Architecture and the Grand Aurora Award for a custom home, with features in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Style Magazine, Sarasota Magazine, SRQ Magazine, Sarasota Observer and HomeDSGN magazine.
Occupying the corner lot of Westway and Center and two doors away from the famed Umbrella House, the home is thoughtfully oriented around a central pool that serves as a focal point for both reflection and recreation. Stretching between north and south wings that gently delineate spaces for private retreat and open entertaining, 3,700 A/C square feet encompass three bedrooms with three and a half bathrooms, an office, an open concept gourmet kitchen and adjacent dining and living space, all purposefully positioned to capture optimal light and accentuate the interplay of built features with the tropical landscape.
An elegant contrast to the brilliant sky and foliage outside, the interior is a refined gallery that meticulously balances walls of glass with solid surfaces for display and function, from art-hung walls to Caesarstone countertops. While complementing the mid-century modern style of surrounding homes, contemporary construction here offers the significant advantages of elevation for flood consideration, high-efficiency impact rated materials, and modern integrations including heated primary bathroom floor, motorized window coverings, Generac generator, LED landscape lighting, and more. Recent upgrades include two Carrier Infinity HVAC systems installed in 2025 and 2024.
Lido Shores is an architectural mecca, coveted for its concentration of mid-century modern, contemporary and post-modern homes, with masterpieces by architects Paul Rudolph, Carl Abbott and Don Chapell. All the homes have deeded access to North Lido Beach. Serene and private but within minutes of St. Armands Circle and Downtown, this special island enclave offers immediate access to the tropical waters of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf and innumerable cultural amenities that include fine and performing arts, dining, and shopping.
Listed by Lisa Rooks Morris, Michael Saunders & Company, 941-544-3332
Description of the Light Box House by Jonathan Parks Architect
“Situated on a quarter acre lot, this 3,700 SF island residence was designed to reflect the owners’ desire for a minimalist home in which they could equally live and entertain.
The home is in Lido Shores, an enclave for modern design centered among the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Located across the street from the water, the owners were surprised by their property’s lack of water view. To accommodate their want of a connection to the water, the architect designed the floor plan to be formed around the pool.
Stepping-stones at the entryway lead over a reflecting pond while the entrance hall itself acts as bridge. All the main public and private spaces pivot around the pool, including the entry, circulation areas, the living room, kitchen, outdoor area, library, and master bedroom. Daily rituals, from rising in the morning to preparing meals to arriving home, maintain the owners’ desire for a relationship to the water.
The dining room, which centers on conversation, and rooms that are meant to be introspective, like his and her office, are more intimate, taking advantage of views looking out from the property.
A second challenge was to design the home on an oddly angled, trapezoidal lot. To achieve this, the architect designed the home so that the secondary spaces absorb the angle (his office, laundry room, library, and upstairs terrace). This composition allows the principal spaces the openness of a normal flow.
The uncluttered design and palette of simple finishes creates a sense that the interior and exterior spaces are wide open, without ignoring privacy. Unencumbered doorways, multiple vistas, and transom windows grant natural light throughout the course of the day.
The result is a home where a multitude of ideas and journeys are woven into a single experience.”
