The Tetreault-Pirman House, a contemporary single-family residence in Sapphire Shores strongly influenced by the midcentury Sarasota School of Architecture, has won a 2019 design award from the Society of Registered American Architects.

It is one of just 80 awards given late last year by SARAS to architect firms from across the country and the world.  Michael Epstein of Seibert Architects was the project architect and designer; Sam Holladay was the architect of record. (The late Tim Seibert, founder of Seibert Architects, was an important contributor to the Sarasota School.)

Completed in late 2012 as the building industry was rising out of the Great Recession, the Tetreault-Pirman House utilizes high-quality commercial materials—basically concrete, steel and glass—“that at the time were very cost effective,” says Epstein. These include a steel frame that allowed for a commercial curtain wall system along the east side of the house—floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that look out onto a pool and patio and flood the home with natural light.

The house is not large, at just under 2,000 square feet. “It was built on a small lot in an existing neighborhood, and the owners were ready and willing to go in a nontraditional house direction in terms of materials,” says Epstein.

Street-side privacy was important. “You create your own view since you don’t want to stare at the neighbors,” he says about the design concept. “The house comes off as being all glass, but to the outside not.”

Co-owner John Pirman is the award-winning illustrator who creates Sarasota Magazine’s popular monthly “Only in Sarasota” department. Steve Tetreault is a New York City hairstylist and former full-time resident of Sarasota.