A stunning lakefront residence in Winter Haven, Florida, designed by the acclaimed architect Gene Leedy, has set a new benchmark for single-family home sales in the area, fetching a record-breaking $2,025,000. This significant sale highlights a growing appreciation for architecturally significant properties with a strong connection to their environment.
Key Takeaways
- A Gene Leedy-designed home in Winter Haven sold for $2,025,000, the highest price for a single-family home in the area in the past year.
- The property, located on Otis Lake, features four bedrooms and five bathrooms and was designed by Leedy for his daughter in 2006.
- The sale underscores a rising market interest in homes with "design integrity and a strong connection to place."
A Masterpiece of Design
The four-bedroom, five-bathroom home, situated on the picturesque Otis Lake, was designed by Gene Leedy, a pivotal figure in the Sarasota School of Architecture. Completed in 2006 for his daughter, the residence embodies Leedy’s signature style, characterized by climate-responsive design, structural innovation, and a harmonious integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. The south-facing home boasts 15-foot ceilings, exquisite custom woodwork, and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the lines between the built environment and the natural landscape.
Architectural Significance and Market Trends
This two-story home, a prime example of Leedy’s later-career work and his distinctive cantilevered style, appears to "float above Lake Otis." Its design, admired by both the anonymous buyer and seller, reflects a midcentury modern aesthetic. Features such as courtyards and balconies extend the living areas, further enhancing the connection to the surrounding natural beauty. Ashley Nuccio of Michael Saunders & Company, who represented both parties in the transaction, noted that the high sale price reflects a burgeoning demand for architecturally significant homes in Florida that possess both "design integrity and a strong connection to place."
Community Recognition
Nuccio also commented on the local reverence for Gene Leedy’s work within Winter Haven. "Everyone in Winter Haven knew Gene Leedy and appreciates the care, quality construction, and intentional blending of the natural and built environments that his homes represent," she stated. The sale not only sets a new price record but also celebrates the enduring legacy of a visionary architect and the unique value of his creations in the Florida real estate market.
Sources
- A stunning waterfront Florida home just sold for a record price, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- A waterfront Florida home just sold for a record price. See photos, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.