Aside from this very personal home project, and the writing of the Rudolph book, King has also kept busy with his River Forest development in eastern Manatee County. Taking shape on 25 acres adjacent to property that's been in his family for a long time, River Forest is an award-winning residential community virtually hidden away from the busy traffic on nearby S.R. 70.

"What I've tried to do here is pay attention to the natural environment in site planning and landscaping," explains King. Hundreds of trees and flowering plants have been planted throughout River Forest's common areas, with pine canopies providing shape and saw palmettos a true Florida backdrop. Most of the vegetation is native to Florida; and the entire site incorporates Florida Yards & Neighborhoods concepts.

"Stylistically, the houses I've designed here are not really that much like Rudolph's," admits King. "But conceptually, yes, they are like his work. What's important is the relationship of the house to the trees, the site and the adjacent houses."

King and Domin's book, published by Princeton Architectural Press, should pique the interest of those who attend the "American Legacy: Sarasota School of Architecture" tour and symposium scheduled for Nov. 1-5, which will put together lectures and panel discussions starring original Sarasota School architects with bus tours and other events exploring the innovative architectural movement.

"When we were in architectural school," King muses, "nobody was really talking about Rudolph and his work. I guess it's part of the cyclical nature of taste. Now that mid-century modernism is back, we think our readers will be not only architects and architectural students, but also just people who are interested in design. People haven't thought of Paul Rudolph houses in Florida as a distinct body of work before; now it can all be found in one place, with the photos and drawings included. We're tried to make it accessible."