Bayou Louise Boathouse

Stretching from Big Sarasota Pass to Bayou Louise, the property has an existing residence built in the 1950s on the main waterfront and a boathouse, a rare and valuable feature located on the smaller canal. Despite its poor condition, the new Owners were allowed to remove or restore the boathouse entirely. However, according to the City of Sarasota Code of Ordinance, new boathouses are no longer permitted, but existing ones like this are considered “grandfathered” to the property and can be restored within their original footprint. This unique feature, a rarity in the area, adds significant value to the property. The Owners, recognizing this, have cleverly chosen to breathe new life into the structure located on Bayou Louise.

The boathouse structure desperately needed repair, with clear signs of heavy wood rot, cracking, splintering, algae buildup, and salt damage. The Owners, in line with their vision, requested the new boathouse to reflect the surrounding Sarasota School of Architecture structures, such as the Cocoon house, located nearby along Bayou Louise. To achieve this, the existing pile foundations were replaced by wood piers with a dark piling wrap, effectively hiding them from view in the shadow of the structure above while elongating their lifespan. The walls and roof were then composed of galvanized steel space columns and beams, cleverly wrapped with ipe wood to conceal their treated metal appearance. This design choice ensures a long-lasting metal skeleton, with only the wood needing replacement in the future if necessary. As a nod to the 50’s construction methods, the connection of the columns and beams is an interlocking joint, a unique feature that adds character to the boathouse.

Special attention was given to the skin of the structure, a critical element that influences its function and aesthetic. Inspired by the scale and rhythm of the Cocoon house’s jalousie-style wooden facade, the screening envelope is a modern interpretation of a shading device that regulates internal and external views. Its light filtering qualities partially conceal the boat stored inside and provide external views from the inside, creating a unique and dynamic experience. Furthermore, the semi-open quality of the screen allows filtered light and breezes to flow through the entire structure, mirroring the natural cooling conditions utilized in the 1950s and enhancing the boathouse's comfort and livability.

Location:
Siesta Key, Florida

Status:
Completion, 2025