Living Art on Florida’s Coast
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Nestled on a serene bayou, The Binnacle is an abstract, glass-enclosed home that blends bold architectural forms with functional living spaces. Designed to reflect the clients’ vision of a "piece of art" where "every inch of space" serves a purpose, the structure juxtaposes striking white geometric volumes against the Florida sky. This unique home balances whimsy and sophistication, creating an environment that celebrates the clients' playful spirit and their desire for seamless connections to the surrounding landscape.
To meet coastal construction requirements, the home is elevated nearly 20 feet above the mean high-water line while maintaining the feel of "water-level living." A sweeping, curved wall forms both the roof and a protective barrier from neighboring properties, framing expansive views of the mangroves and bayou. The arched design provides deep overhangs, shading the glass-enclosed spaces from Florida's intense sunlight, while ensuring a harmonious blend of natural light and cooling shade throughout the home.
Inside, the architecture plays with linear forms and curves, creating a dynamic interplay of shapes and volumes. The floating white oak loft and carefully tucked geometric spaces invite discovery at every turn, while expansive windows provide uninterrupted water views from every room. The result is a home that artfully merges form and function, offering an inspiring living space that is as practical as it is extraordinary.
client/owner
Private Client
Project information
location
Longboat Key, FL
size
2,500 SF
Status
Completed in 2020
FOUNDER
Jerry Sparkman, AIA, NCARB
The creative force behind the Casey Key Residence project, Jerry is a second-generation architect. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Jerry spent some time working in Manchester, England, before returning to the States to obtain his Master’s in Architecture from The University of Virginia. Not only is Jerry an exceptional architect with many awards under his belt, but he is also a talented musician, playing slide guitar and a mandolin. His band, Radio Free Carmela and the Transmitters, has toured Florida from Tallahassee to the Keys, performing at festivals like the Florida Folk Festival, Riverhawk, and WMNF 88.5 Tampa FL Community Radio's 'Tropical Heatwave.'
Education: University of Virginia, M. Arch, 2001 University of Tennessee, B. Arch 1992 University of Manchester, England, Urban Design Studies, 1991
Registrations: Registered Architect in FL AR-91475 Registered Architect in Tennessee 101441 Registered Architect in North Carolina 11210 Member National Council of Architectural Registration Boards American Institute of Architects Member, Gulf Coast Chapter Past President 2005
Hannah Boehmer, AIA
Hannah, originally from Cocoa Beach, graduated in May 2014 with a Master of Architecture from the University of South Florida and has been a licensed architect since 2019. She has worked on projects in both the residential and public spectrum of the office and has a fondness for working with existing structures, bringing clarity and renewed purpose to otherwise unconsidered spaces.
In 2019, her graduate thesis exploring how contemporary design can integrate with Florida vernacular won an AIA Florida Theoretical and Research Design Merit Award. In 2021, Hannah secured the first runner-up finish in the Center for Architecture's Tiny House Competition. In addition to obsessively observing the play of shadow and light in daily spaces, she is also a member of the Junior League of Sarasota, an avid reader, and an espresso enthusiast.
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