Only in Sarasota: The Zigzag House

The Zigzag House in Lido Shores
Image: John Pirman
This architecturally arresting Lido Shores residence was built for Sarasota philanthropist Rita Adler and her family. It was designed in 1959 by Tollyn Twitchell for Ralph Twitchell Architects, in the first year he partnered with his father. The house was never officially named; it’s unofficially nicknamed the “Zigzag House” for its unusual roofline. Michael Epstein of Seibert Architects completed a multi-phase restoration in late 2017. “I’d only seen one roof shape like it, in architecture school, and so I’ve always been fascinated by the house,” says Epstein. Now, he says, “It makes me grin every time we go in there.”