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The Ruskin House: Design Pages |
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2025 CALVINO architecture studio, inc all contents of this publication whether in digital or analog format are the express property of CALVINOarchitecture studio, inc. and shall not be reproduced by any means without written consent from Mike Calvino |
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Woodruff Residence Ruskin FL Designed 2000 - 2001 |
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The site for this project sits at the mouth of the Little Manatee River in Ruskin, Florida. The view is northward just flanking a small island a little over 200 feet out. The view shifts the geometry of the structure 19 degrees, 15 minutes east of north to take advantage of the clear view of the horizon across the water of the river mouth. This rotation of the geometrical grid of the composition uses as its pivot point, the center of a circular drive element that serves to elevate the entrant to a height of 9 feet above grade. This becomes necessary to avoid having a flight of stairs leading to the front door of the home. Because of the restrictions of buildable area due to wetland area setbacks of 50 feet, there is little room for a drive that provides a ramp to an elevation of 9 feet above grade. For this reason, the circle is used because geometrically, it provides the most amount of linear distance within a given area - the perimeter of the circle. In this way, the ramp does not become too steep to drive a vehicle up and with an outside diameter of 60 feet, the turning radius remains very comfortable even in a full-sized truck. |
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The solid masonry walls finished with a rough, grey stucco define a pair of pylons that mark the entry to the living space, defining its boundaries. This rough, masonry becomes a diagramming system that defines the basic spatial layout of the site, marking the ground with enclosing elements and providing access at both the pedestrian and vehicular scales. As activities on and in the water are an integral part of the owners lives, the drive, provided by the circular masonry ramp system, allows access to a boat dock at the west edge of the property. It also provides access to a carport area beneath the guest suite space at the same edge.
The structure is located on the site in a way that does not disturb any existing trees. At this western edge, the trees define a sort of archway at the entry to the carport area. |
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The plan layout of the composition uses the solid masonry as a shielding system providing privacy at the street edge and the eastern face against the neighbor. The use of this mass system provides a structure that presents itself very differently to each edge of the site. The photos at left show the shielding sense that these walls provide as well as the openness that comes from the glazing at the edges facing the water. As one moves around it the structure takes on changing characteristics depending on the site conditions. |
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Below: View from in front of the auxiliary structure toward the screened pool area of the main house. The derivation of the roof form for the auxiliary structure can be seen in this series of photos and sketches. The form of the main roof system is derived from an intent to create a sense of bringing the space of the water and horizon into and through the house. |
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Another interesting and challenging issue in this project is an existing concrete slab on the site that measures 12 x 24 . The slab appears to have no reinforcing in it and lies just within the setback limits of the EPC wetland line. With a desire by the owner to utilize this concrete slab for an auxiliary storage building instead of going to the expense of demolishing and removing it, an element is designed to provide usable space on the slab. With no reinforcing in the slab, a separate structure must be designed to support an overhead plane. This structural support however, must be outside the wetland setback area. The solution presents itself as a pair of reinforced masonry piers that plant themselves away from the slab to be within the setback limitations. These piers support a pair of cantilevered, galvanized steel trusses which suspend a floating, curved roof plane just above the lightweight masonry walls which enclose a space at two edges on the slab. The other two edges of the slab are enclosed by a simple, screened, rough sawn cypress curtainwall and screen doors. |
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Far Right: A set of living space furniture is designed that remains low and is on caster wheels to keep the space and view unobstructed so that one may feel the space of the bay. The dining room table is derived from the form of the main roof structure.
Right: Development sketch of the main roof system giving a sense that the space grows from the water and folds back as a wave to define the living area.
Left: The view from the water shows the openness of the glazed edge and its axial quality. The pool s edge at the water side of the structure will spill over a ledge into a filtering trough so that from the living space and from the pool deck, no land is seen between the pool s edge and the water of the bay, bringing the water of the horizon into the space of the house. |
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Right: A view through the living space to the horizon from the main entry with the 9 square, offset pivot door fully opened. At the right can be seen the suspended kitchen elements of the blue pearl granite counter with storage cabinets below and the 45 cubic feet of storage cabinets overhead. The entire kitchen is suspended from the loft element above keeping the floor space clean and unobstructed for easy maintenance. |
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The axis of the composition sets itself up along the 19.25 degree shift to take advantage of the view to the horizon. The axis is reinforced by the pool layout and a direct access corridor at ground level, beneath the main house, from the center of the circular drive at the south. This axial layout is complimented by undulating, frosted glass screen walls separating the living area from the private, master and guest suites. These curving, frosted glass walls provide both audio and visual privacy while letting diffused, natural light into the private spaces, activating them with shadows both inside and out. The lighting of these private spaces after sundown will be accomplished by a series of halogen spots on the living area side of the frosted panels. This will eliminate the possibility of one in the public area seeing silhouettes from the private spaces.
There is also a suspended loft which provides a more intimacy for the kitchen area beneath it. The loft structure also cantilevers through the south, glass wall to offer an exterior, screened balcony above the front door and drive. This loft may be used as an additional guest sleeping area, or a stereo/television space. |
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Right: The direct access corridor is entered from the center of the circular drive where one can see the horizon across the pool beneath the house.
Right: View from the north end of the pool along the direct access corridor to the center of the circular drive. |
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Drawing, above, and below: the undulating, frosted glass privacy walls between the living space and the private guest and master suites. |
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Left: View of the model with the roof removed showing the axial composition and the loft at the southeast corner. |
