Umbrella House Tour

Architecture enthusiasts can step inside one of the most significant residential structures of the midcentury modern movement during this guided walkthrough. Preserved by Architecture Sarasota, the 1953 Paul Rudolph-designed home in Lido Shores is defined by its massive, slatted wooden sunshade—the "umbrella"—that aggressively filters the Florida heat. A docent unpacks the specific geometry of the house, pointing out Rudolph’s use of jalousie windows, dropped floor planes, and passive ventilation systems. The tour offers an uncompromising look at how the Sarasota School of Architecture merged experimental minimalist aesthetics with practical climate adaptation.