Lightness Through Mass and Material
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The Higel House was born from a request for a simple, energy-efficient, contemporary beach home. Located on Siesta Key, the site presented dual challenges: a required elevated structure due to flood zone regulations and proximity to a busy intersection. The design responds by balancing openness and privacy, using strategic massing to create a calm, airy retreat.
Proportion played a key role—elevating the landscape to meet the entry stair grounds the structure, raised window sills compress the upper volume, and a thin-profile SIPS roof enhances the silhouette while enabling energy performance. The roof provides integral insulation, deep overhangs for shade, and supports a large solar array and roof deck with views to Roberts Bay and Big Sarasota Pass.
The design aimed for material honesty within the framework of a “modern beach shack.” This concept evolved into a post-and-beam language expressed through exposed concrete supports and a shiplap-clad roof. Finishes like Florida coral stone, terrazzo tile, and pickled white oak promote cross-ventilation and blur the line between interior and exterior. Set back from property edges, the home allows the landscape to flow around it, softening its elevated presence.
client/owner
Private Client
Project information
location
Siesta Key, FL
size
3,664 SF
Status
Completed in 2017
Jerry Sparkman, a founding principal of Sweet Sparkman Architecture, has been crafting resilient, thoughtful designs since the firm's inception in 2002. His work reflects a deep understanding of the coastal environment, emphasizing the integration of local culture, history, and long-term community growth. Jerry’s design philosophy—“respect the land and the people, and the rest will follow”—is exemplified in projects like The Bay Park in Sarasota, where he has merged innovative design with environmental stewardship to create vibrant public spaces. His portfolio spans high-end residential projects, public parks, higher education facilities, and community spaces, all shaped by active listening and a meticulous approach to financial, physical, social, and environmental factors. With a belief that nature provides unlimited inspiration, Jerry continues to create spaces that harmonize with their surroundings while meeting the needs of diverse communities.
Jerry Sparkman, AIA, NCARB
Hannah Boehmer, AIA
As Design Director, Hannah brings a thoughtful, site-responsive approach to architecture that prioritizes clarity, sustainability, and a deep respect for existing structures. Originally from Cocoa Beach, Hannah earned her Master of Architecture from the University of South Florida in 2014. Her early exposure to construction—watching her parents transform their 1950s block home—sparked a lasting fascination with how buildings evolve over time. Today, that interest shapes her passion for reimagining and adapting space rather than replacing it.
Her design work emphasizes climate-responsive strategies tailored to Florida’s coastal environment and is guided by a belief that architecture should balance beauty with function. Hannah’s academic and professional accolades include a 2019 AIA Florida Theoretical and Research Design Merit Award for her graduate thesis on Florida vernacular architecture, and a second-place finish in the 2021 Architecture Sarasota Tiny House Competition.
Outside the studio, Hannah is an avid reader, writer, and member of the Junior League of Sarasota—a training organization dedicated to volunteerism and women’s professional development. These creative and civic pursuits offer her a valuable perspective on design’s role within broader communities.
Designed in Collaboration With Hello June Creative.
Ⓒ Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors 2025, All Rights Reserved. License: AR0015832