Shibusa

The design of Shibusa draws on the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of appreciating quiet beauty through simplicity, restraint, and refinement. Rather than relying on ornamentation, the architecture seeks timelessness through clarity of form, disciplined proportions, and an economy of materials. The result is a modern waterfront residence that feels understated yet deeply connected to its coastal setting.

Situated on a long, narrow waterfront property along Big Sarasota Pass, the home responds to both the site’s unique conditions and the owners’ desire for a calm, uncomplicated way of life. Elevated above the required base flood elevation, the residence is conceived as a series of interconnected volumes that hover lightly above the tropical landscape, minimizing its visual presence while maximizing openness, natural light, and views.

Two simple rectilinear pavilions form the primary composition. The larger pavilion contains the principal living spaces and owners’ suite, carefully oriented toward uninterrupted views of Big Sarasota Pass. A transparent, two-story entry stair separates the home’s public and private spaces while maintaining visual continuity across the site.

The secondary pavilion houses the guest accommodations and frames a secluded courtyard with a tropical garden and lap pool. This protected outdoor room creates a more intimate counterpoint to the openness of the waterfront and provides additional views toward the surrounding waterways. Its cantilevered form extends above the entry sequence, reinforcing the perception of a structure elevated lightly above the landscape and reaching toward Bayou Louise beyond.

The architecture incorporates passive climatic strategies throughout, including deep overhangs, recessed glazing, and vertical shading screens that moderate solar exposure while preserving natural light and openness. A restrained material palette of board-formed concrete, vertical composite wood cladding, and white Portland cement plaster reinforces the conceptual framework, creating a cohesive language of permanence, restraint, and simplicity.

For Hive Architects, shibusa is not simply a stylistic reference. It became a design methodology—one in which proportion, materiality, climate, and the relationship between architecture and landscape collectively shape the experience of the home.

The result is a custom residence designed not to dominate its waterfront setting, but to live quietly within it.

Location:
Siesta Key | Sarasota, Florida

Type:
Modern Waterfront Residence

Status:
Completed, 2020

Awards:
2025 | UF School of Architecture Alumni Design Award for Architecture
2024 | AIA Florida Gulf Coast Honor Award of Excellence for Interiors
2024 | AIA Florida Gulf Coast Merit Award of Excellence for New Work
2024 | SRQ Magazine Home of the Year Platinum Award for Best Landscape Design/Outdoor
2023 | AIA Florida/Caribbean Merit Award of Excellence for New Work
2023 | AIA Florida/Caribbean Merit Award of Excellence for Interiors
2022 | SRQ Magazine Home of the Year Gold Award for Best Overall Interior Design
2021 | SRQ Magazine Home of the Year Platinum Award for Best Overall Home - Over $2 Million

Landscape Architect:
DWY Landscape Architects

Monograph:
Shibusa | Hive Architects (Masterpiece Series) | Oscar Riera Ojeda Publishers, 2022

Press:

Shibusa

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