Sparrow Residence
Structure 25 (C3)
501 West Lake Otis Drive SE
Year Built 1954
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Tour Narrative
Down a block and across the street at 501 West Lake Otis Drive is another first -- Leedy's first work of architecture in Winter Haven. The Sparrow House is the commission that brought Gene here from Sarasota. It was built for the local theater manager, Frank Sparrow and his wife in 1954. It was awarded by House and Home Magazine as one of the "56 Best Homes in the United States" in 1956.
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The magazine photographs caused quite a sensation for the young architect, setting the stage for a long and sensational career in Winter Haven and elsewhere. Before this home was built, the enterprising Leedy allowed Better Homes and Gardens, to sell blueprints of his house designs in their magazine. The royalties kept him going financially while his house designs reached buyers nationally, even as far as Hawaii. But right here is where it all began.
The original exterior design and structural elements remain evident today and area as unique now as they were then. Even minimalist landscaping brings color and simple beauty, both inside and out. Note the honesty of materials, the use of courtyards and large glass doors to bring the outdoors in, and especially the slightly pitched roof and large louvered front panel on the house. Built in a pre-air conditioned era, the dictates of the Florida climate were carefully taken into account. It was, of course, later retrofitted with an air conditioning system, but the original climate-sensitive design is again significant now. There is a revitalized interest in ecologically sound and healthy structures, and energy conservation. The natural breezes funneled through the opened windows and doors of this house are a welcome alternative to today's culture of vacuum packed buildings and recycled air.
This simple yet ingenious home is but one more superior example of the modern design philosophy of Gene Leedy, relevant to both history, current trends, and the future of architecture.
