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A masterpiece of views, in and out

A tour to kick off Archifest features a modern marvel on Bayshore.

By ELIZABETH BETTENDORF
Published November 10, 2006

At Norma Gene Lykes' house on Bayshore Boulevard, the view of traffic, sea and sky flows like music into the soul.

"The Japanese call it borrowing a view," explains Lykes, a passionate disciple of modern architecture who hired Tampa architect Richard Zingale to build the house of her dreams.

The house, at the confluence of Bayshore Boulevard and Orleans and Watrous avenues, combines both the International and Case Study styles - the modern residential model homes built in the post-World War II boom by some of the most respected architects of the era such as Richard Neutra and Charles and Ray Eames.

Its design is so breathtaking it may well end up on the map as one of Tampa's most significant homes.

"I get to live in Richard's art; I feel like a very fortunate woman," says Lykes, a community activist who runs the F.E. Lykes Foundation (which builds urban parks) and supports causes she's passionate about, including the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Lykes' home was spotlighted last week on the American Institute of Architects/Tampa Bay tour of local modern homes. The tour kicks off the two-week-long Archifest, a series of AIA-sponsored events that includes a free Historic Tampa Architecture Tour at 1 p.m. Nov. 17. (For more information go to www.aiatampabay.com.)

Completed in early September, the 4,500-square-foot house took more than two years to build and brought together Zingale, interior designer Sandra Chancey, builder J.O. DeLotto and foreman Tony Moguel.

Zingale, a principal partner with the architectural firm Urban Design Studios, worked with architect Mark Cox to design the home. He says it was easy because Lykes, a longtime friend, shares his ideas about architecture.

"Norma Gene's vision of what she wanted to accomplish was so similar to the way our firm practices architecture that it was a vision we couldn't say no to," explains Zingale, who usually works on commercial projects, like Sidebern's restaurant, the old Mia's restaurant, the new Bern's Hotel, high-end condos and the Evos restaurants.

He says the Lykes house is perhaps his finest residential design.

Besides incorporating the view of Tampa Bay, it had to showcase Lykes' collection of 20th century American modern art, in addition to her collections of African tribal antiquities, documentary photography and contemporary Japanese basketry.

"Art was very important to this house, almost a backdrop," he says.

It features every amenity imaginable, including a small private pool, garage studio guest quarters, an outdoor fireplace meant to be enjoyed from the master bedroom, and top-drawer technology, including remote-control shades built into the ceiling.

Yet it embraces the natural aspects of the lot, including its gentle slope. Although it is contemporary in a neighborhood of largely historic homes, it isn't boastful, and blends so thoroughly with its surroundings that it's possible to drive right past it without noticing.

Sixty-five percent of the wall space is windows, creating the sense that the outdoors and indoors meld into one. On cool days, the house isn't dependent on air conditioning, instead coaxing breezes from the bay through its transom windows.

The large, galley-style kitchen has cabinets of white lacquered wood and countertops of subtle Calcutta gold marble.

Chancey's interior design also balances neatly with the architecture, incorporating colors and furniture pieces that don't compete with the view.

"She used a lot of very natural colors and fabrics like linen, raw silk, suede cropped mohair, cashmere and cotton," Lykes says, "all things that if you had shorts on would feel good on the back of your legs."

Because of the open philosophy of the house - even the hallways are large and airy - there is nowhere to hide stuff. That meant lots of "editing" and getting rid of a lifetime of possessions, including more than 1,000 books Lykes donated to the University of South Florida and the Jan Platt Library.

Dispensing with possessions is incredibly freeing, she says, but hard at first.

"The first cut was very difficult, the second less so, and by the fourth and fifth I was donating away," Lykes recalls. "All I could think about were the people who had lost everything to Katrina."

She keeps no storage bins tucked away. Her possessions are pretty much in full view, with the exception of a moderately sized walk-in closet with fewer clothes in it than the average woman has in her wardrobe.

Getting rid of junk meant more room for things like a mirrored ballet and yoga alcove off the master bedroom. It also meant large, airy, incredibly sensual bathrooms that incorporate shower flooring made of smooth river stones (an idea she snagged last year on a trip to Turks and Caicos). The bathrooms showcase her collection of black and white photography of mid 20th century swimmers, as well as lamps by Dallas designer Linda Shelton.

Lykes, who is hilarious and as willowy chic as a French woman, describes her decorating philosophy as "blue jeans with real diamond earrings."

Example: At the simple, built-in vanity table Zingale designed for her, she has paired a $10 modern perfume tray from Target with lamps that cost thousands.

And the house, for all its architectural beauty, also works well for Lykes' grandchildren, who range in age from 5 to 12.

"It's a great house to run in," Zingale says.

Nothing is too precious; everything flows together from the front sidewalk all the way back to the narrow backyard swimming pool.

"I like being in a rational space. I like the way it feels," explains Lykes, who once for a fifth grade assignment drew a complete blueprint of a house.

Why didn't she become an architect?

She laughs.

"I had children instead."

AIA's Archifest

For more information on the American Institute of Architects or on Archifest events, including the Historic Architecture Tour led by Del Acosta, historic preservation expert with the city of Tampa, call the AIA/Tampa at (813) 229-3411 or go to www.aiatampabay.com.

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For more information on the American Institute of Architects or on Archifest events including the Historic Architecture Tour led by Del Acosta, historic preservation expert with the City of Tampa, call the AIA/Tampa at (813) 229-3411 or go to www.aiatampabay.com

[Last modified November 9, 2006, 10:57:09]