Meet Damien Blumetti, the Civic-Minded Architect Embracing Innovative Materials
Damien Blumetti
Image: Hannah Phillips
Damien Blumetti Architect
Damien Blumetti, 41
2131 Hillview St., Sarasota
Born and raised in Sarasota, since 2020 Damien Blumetti has served on the City of Sarasota’s Planning Board, which makes recommendations to city commissioners about the proposed development of land (his term ends in June). He’s also president of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) Florida Gulf Coast chapter and “a direct descendant of Sarasota School of Architecture" thanks to learning the craft under revered architect Guy Peterson for years before starting his own firm. One recent project was the 2015 restoration of the McCulloch Pavilion, designed in 1960 by Sarasota School architects William Rupp and Joe Farrell. Once the Sarasota County Print Center, it's now home to Architecture Sarasota.
Blumetti was just 40 at the time when his work caught our eye—we wrote about his cast-in-place concrete home, the first of its kind in Sarasota, here.
Rendering of a 1,100 square-foot boathouse for a client on Casey Key who wanted a pre and post- boating retreat from their main home.
Image: Courtesy Photo
A rendering of the interior of the boathouse showing the sitting area, entry foyer to the left, and kitchen-dining area. Primary materials are wood, concrete and steel.
Image: Courtesy Photo
Younger than most in the industry, Blumetti says that his age has never been an issue in his practice and is largely irrelevant since “you’re always learning—tech, products and codes are in flux. You’re a constant student at every age.”
A rendering of a single-family home with a "butterfly roof" and a gutter at the center to capture and redirect rainfall.
Image: Courtesy Photo
How would you define your style?
“I’m a regional modernist. It's a thoughtful approach that deals with specific aspects of a site and how the architecture interacts with it. That can be elevating the structure so the underbelly of the house can be occupied and protected by elements, and creating views to be oriented toward water and shielded from the busier part of the road, for example.
"But every house is so different from the next. I appreciate that it's custom to the client. Whatever the program they require, we respond to. The design process isn’t just standard."
Located on Siesta Drive, this home represents the first cast-in-place concrete home in Sarasota.
Image: Courtesy Photo
What’s an architectural trend you love?
“One thing I value highly is the importance of landscape, especially here. The integration of the built and the landscape is a critical component of our work. We work with landscape architects to get there because I think it’s critical.”
