Yoga at the Umbrella House

"This doesn't suck," I declared to my fellow yogis as we situated ourselves for our class at the iconic Umbrella House. The woman next to me agreed, although she didn't seem particularly impressed with my eloquence. Still, the observation seemed apt. It was a gorgeous morning, and I was poolside with my yoga mat at a gem of a home that personifies the Sarasota School of Architecture. 

In case you're not familiar with the Sarasota School of Architecture (also known as Sarasota Modern), here's a short primer. In the 19th century, advances in engineering allowed architects to move away from Gothic and Greek styles that were then the norm. The result was buildings filled with light and air like the Eiffel Tower and the Crystal Palace. At more or less the same time, Frank Lloyd Wright began his illustrious career building homes in an organic style. His houses seemed to grow out of the earth both stylistically and in the materials used. His Fallingwater might be the most well-known example. 

Moving ahead to the 1950s and '60s, Sarasota architects melded the international style's capitalization on engineering advances with the organic style's emphasis on the natural world.  This new style of building featured floor-to-ceiling windows to bring the outside in and large structural sunshades to keep the heat out. Much-required ventilation systems were hidden from view. Modern materials such as laminated wood and plastic were frequently incorporated into designs. Welcome to the Umbrella House. 

It was 1953 when developer Phillip Hiss hired Paul Rudolph to design a speculative concept home. Hiss envisioned the house as a prototype for a new neighborhood on Lido Shores and hoped something radical would lead to international attention. Hiss' dream of an entire neighborhood of Sarasota Mod homes didn't come true (although there are a few on the street on which the Umbrella House lives). The house did, however, garner the attention Hiss craved. In the first year, more than 25,000 people toured the Umbrella House. It was featured in numerous publications, including Architectural Digest, Art and Architecture and L'Architecture D'Aujourd'hui. Fifty years later, the ground-breaking design still stood out, and Architectural Digest named the Umbrella House one of "the most remarkable homes of the twentieth century." It remains a jewel in the Sarasota architectural landscape today. 

The "umbrella" that shades the 1300 square foot dwelling and the pool area was originally made from wood. In 1966, Hurricane Alma swept the umbrella away.  The house fell into disrepair, and it wasn't until 2015 that the home was fully restored with a new high tech umbrella in place. (While the new steel canopy is lovely, it is a bit dizzying to lie on the ground looking up at it.) 

The interior of the home is clean and spare and not to my taste in my least. But I can appreciate it for what it is. While small, every inch was carefully designed. For instance, the rectangular shapes protruding from the wall on the left are dressers that double as tables for lamps and tschotschkes. I asked the obvious question -- especially in the time of a pandemic -- "Where is the TV?" I was informed that all evidence of modern living had been removed for the week-end since the home was part of the annual Sarasota Modern tour.  In any event, the Umbrella House is not occupied full time. The owners live across the street, and it serves as a guest house for their visitors. Wow.  

Thanks to the Sarasota Architectural Foundation and Lynn Burgess of Yoga from the Heart for a memorable morning on my mat.  Namaste.