Ralph Twitchell was an architect who was considered the founding father of the Sarasota School of Architecture. He bridged his traditional architecture of the 1920’s with his modernist designs of the 1940’s.

He was born.in Mansfield, Ohio on July 27, 1890. His family relocated to Florida He first enrolled in Rollins College. In 1910, he transferred to McGill University in Montreal. In 1912, he transferred to Columbia University in New York. He served in the army in World War I from 1917-1919. He resumed his studies at Columbia. He received a BA in architecture in 1920. He received a MA in architecture in 1921

     Twitchwell returned to Sarasota in 1925.  He was a representative of New York Architect Dwight James Baum.  He managed the final of stages of construction of Ca  d’Zan–John Ringling’s Venetian Style Mansion on Sarasota Bay.  After this project, he purchased 13 lots in the Ravellan Gardens neighborhood of Sarasota.   He designed Mediterranean style homes for these lots.  In 1926, the project tanked.   He relocated to the Northeast.

     Twitchell relocated to Sarasota in 1936.    He opened his architectural and building firm Associate Builders.  His earliest commissions were a Sierra Key Residence and the Lido Beach Casino.  At this time, we experimented with reinforced concrete and glass.

     In 1938, the American Institute of  Architects revoked Twitchell’s license.  Reason: his owner of a construction company

     The glass house is a historic house/museum in New Canaan, Connecticut.  The architect was Philip Johnson.  He spent 3 years developing the design.  His inspiration was the Farnsworth home in Plano, Illinois.  This was designed by Mies Van Der Rohe.  The Glass House was built in 1948-9.

     The Glass House was a modern style building.  It is 56 feet long; 32 feet in width; 10 1/2 feet high. The kitchen, dining and sleeping areas are in one glass enclosed room.  The interior open space is subdivided by low walnut cabinets.   A brick cylinder encloses the bathroom.

     The exterior walls are charcoal painted steel and glass.  The entire estate was 47 acres;later expanded to 200 acres.  In addition to the Glass House are multiple modernistic structures added over many years.

    In addition to the Glass House, the estate included multiple modernist buildings.  1. Brick House.  Built 1949–52.  Served as a guest house.  2 Pavilion.  Built in 1962.  3. Painting Gallery.  Built 1965.  4 Sculpture Gallery.  Built in 1970.  5.  Study.  Built in 1980.  6. Ghost House.  Built in 1982. 7. Kirsten Tower. Built in 1985. 8. Gate House a.k.a dam an star.  Built in 1995.

     Building listed in the National Register of Historic Places on 2/18/1997.

     Upon Philip Johnson’s death, the estate passed to the ownership of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  The estate opened for visitors on April, 2007.

The new Luminary Hotel at 2200 Edwards Drive in Fort Myers officially opened on September 23, 2020. The new Hotel is located in downtown area overlooking the Caloosahatchee River. The Building has 12 floors. There are 243 rooms.

Current food and beverage outlets include: Ella Maes’s Diner, Dean Street Coffee and the Lobby Bar. To open in the future Signature Silver King Ocean Brassiere, Beacon Social Drinking Rootop Lounge.

Other features include The Workshop an innovative culinary lab, an indoor outdoor fitness facility pool and pool are on the fourth floor

The Sarasota School of Architecture was also known as Sarasota Modern. It occurred after World War 2 (1941–1966). It was located in Florida’s central west coast around Sarasota.

Members of the Sarasota School of Architecture included: Ralph Twitchell, considered the founder and his partner Paul Rudolph. These two men were architects of the Twitchell House, Healey Guest House, and Revere Quality House.) Other members included Gene Leedy (Garcia Residence), Tim Seibert (Hiss Studio, Seista Key Pavilion, Bayport Beach and Tennis Club, Bay Plaza, Cocoanut), Jack West (Nokomis Beach Pavilion, Sarasota City Hall, First Federal Savings and Loan Manatee), Victor Lundy (Warm Mineral Springs, Motel, Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church), William Rupp (McCulloch Pavillion, Riverview High School Umbrella House), Carl Abbott.

The Warm Mineral Springs Motel is located at 12597 S. Tamiami Trail North Port, Florida. It was built in 1958. The architect was Victor Lundy. He was a member of the Sarasota school of Architecture

There are 28 rooms. There is an office. The pool was added in 1950. The building is known for a mushroom shaped champagne glass style roof and glass walls

In the early 1900’s, Howard Street was the northern border of Chicago from the Lake west. Germania was an area of Evanston geographically. Its borders were the l tracks to the west Calvary Cemetery to the north and and Lake Michigan to the east. It received its name due to its German population.

The residents of Germania felt disconnected to Evanston. They sought sewer services and electricity. In the early 1900’s, the area seceded from Evanston and was annexed to Chicago. Much of the original housing persists. There are low rise apartments, 6 flats, and single family homes.