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New Modern Wins 2007 Gold Aurora and Best in State

The New Modern by Phil Kean Designs is the 2007 Gold Aurora Best in Show and the Best of State Florida. Located in Winter Park, Florida, the New Modern was designed to embrace mid-century architectural inspirations of Richard Neutra, Paul Rudolph, Rudolf Schindler, and Frank Lloyd Wright to create a new modern classic.

True to mid-century design ideas, the house steps toward the corner, following the lot’s topography and incorporates flat roofs and corner glass walls. Scale and design qualities were maintained while taking advantage of today’s technologies to fulfill the need for luxury and convenience.

“Builders are doing more research, making homes more historically accurate,” says Marla Ottenstein, an Aurora Awards judge and owner of the Naples, Florida – based Ottenstein Marketing. “Homes today are maturing and evolving as builders take on new risks.”

Exceptional features of the home include: an oversized kitchen with wine storage; a luxurious owner’s retreat with large bath and separate steam and massage rooms; a saltwater aquarium, and separate media and game rooms. Finally the use of natural materials, neutral colors, water features and lighting achieve the client’s desire to the keep the house warm and relaxed.

“This home is the perfect example of less being more,” said Barry L. Glantz, AIA, a first-time Aurora Awards judge and President of the St. Louis-based Glantz & Associates Architects Inc. “Contemporary housing is really striking a chord in people.”

The Phil Kean Designs’ client desired a warm and relaxed modern home located in a prestigious neighborhood of historic mansions, large new homes, and mid-century ranches.

The biggest constraints for this project were related to the restrictive local building codes. Excessive corner lot setbacks, height limits, square footage restrictions, and pervious area requirements dictated many of the basic design elements on the 12,661 square-foot lot. Overcoming these challenges was achieved with an indoor/outdoor plan to maximize the use of space on the lot.

“The indoor and outdoor living in this project is wonderful,” said Roberta Klein, a judge from Miami and veteran design and architecture writer, and former editor of Florida Architecture Magazine.

“A Gold Aurora winner displays great continuity from the outside and inside making the home pure all the way through,” said Nick Lehnert, a judge and Vice President of Bassenian Lagoni Architects, located in Newport Beach, California. “The new modern’s first photo gave us all (judges) a great first impression. It’s important to have a skilled photographer when shooting architecture.”

The New Modern also won two Grand Aurora Awards in the Bath category and the Landscape/Pool Design category.