Wildewood Springs, about Pineneedle

 

DESCRIPTION  Wildewood Springs IIA is a neighborhood called Pineneedle Village located in Bradenton, Florida built in the 1970s and early 1980s. It was the brainchild of architect Tim Seibert, perhaps "the most prolific practitioner of the Sarasota School of Architecture," and developer Paul Neal, father of well-known and award-winning developer Pat Neal. (Pat and his dad created Neal Communities in 1974). 

SIZE  Wildewood IIA is a cluster of 54 units covering about 9 acres in Pineneedle Village. Pineneedle Village borders Oak Drive, Woodlawn Village (identified as Woodlawn Drive on the map), and Wild Palm Village (identified as Wild Palm Drive on the map). WWIIA shares maintenance of the pond with the larger Wildewood Springs Association.

MAPS

Architecture Recommendations from architect Sam Holladay, Seibert Architects

Maintaining and cleaning louvered windows in our neighborhood - Paul Hyla

Hiss Studio talk by Tim Seibert - Hiss, an important contributor to Sarasota schools

Wood-louvered single-hung window is a "Tim Seibert special" 

The louvered window used in other high-end buildings in Sarasota-Bradenton

"What is the value of Seibert's architecture in Wildewood Springs"? 

Wildewood Springs was designed by Edward J. "Tim" Seibert and
built by Paul, Jr. and his son Pat Neal

Articles about Sarasota School of Architecture architect, Tim Seibert

Light Quality 

Sunset light inside a Unit   

Oversized Sliding Glass Doors, a signature style of mid-modern design by Tim Seibert

Remembering Tim Seibert, architect of Wildewood Springs

A delightful moment with Tim Seibert before his talk at the Hiss House. 

SarasotaMOD week, 2016. Photo by Lynn Seibert.

Timothy J. Seibert, the architect of Wildewood Springs and Spring Lakes, has died at age 91. He was one of the founding members of the Sarasota School of Architecture. 

The Sarasota School architecture is characterized by its adaptation of modern architecture to the Florida climate—large sunshades, natural ventilation systems, full height sliding glass doors, single depth floor plans (no corridors), and walls of jalousie windows.  

Inflected by local climate, construction practices, regional culture, and Florida life-style, the work of the Sarasota School of Architecture founded by Ralph Twitchell and counting Paul Rudolph, Edward "Tim" Seibert, Mark Hampton, Victor Lundy, Gene Leedy, Jack West and Carl Abbott among its practitioners, marks a high point in the development of regional modernism in American architecture. - Sarasota Architectural Foundation

I had the opportunity to meet and talk to Tim about Wildewood Springs before a talk held in the Hiss House in Lido Shores. What a delight! It ignited my curiosity and interest to learn more about our hidden jewel, Wildewood Springs. I shared what I learned with neighbors at Board meetings.

I am deeply grateful for Tim's art and to live in a building designed by him. 

I treasure his vision to create dwellings that worked with the habitat—to build under the tree canopy of mostly slash pine, sabal palms, and Southern Live Oak trees. 

I am grateful for Tim's friendship with Paul Neal (senior) and that they cared about this extraordinary Florida habitat. Together they measured distances from the stately oak trees for the site plan to make room for both the trees and buildings. It was rare, and mostly still is rare, to not clearcut the land.

Because Tim and Paul protected the habitat, our community is an Audubon Wildlife-Certified area. It is a privilege to share this neighborhood with a wealth of wildlife diversity. 

As a year-round resident, I appreciate the simplicity in his design and one that accentuates living outdoors. The sunrise and sunset light quality continues to delight us. In mid-summer, I see his thoughtfulness in creating a design that softens the bright light and oppressive heat. In our unit, we do not have window coverings because the design allows this. We can open the doors at night on two walls. As if camping out, we see the trees, hear the owls, and sometimes, some pretty loud frogs courting.

I am grateful to Janet Minker, past chair of the Sarasota Architecture Foundation (SAF), and her dynamic and tireless effort to educate our community about Sarasota School's architects and their contributions.

Janet also helped our Association's Board connect with Tim Seibert and his firm, Seibert Architects, now led by Sam Holladay. Without Tim's help, we would not have received Sam's recommendations to Wildewood Springs and Spring Lakes for mid-century modern replacements when needed. Because of Tim, Sam agreed to work with Terry Barrett and the WWIIA Board's committee. Sam gave our Association over $4,000 in-kind services, making site visits and creating THIS LIST  of specs, which has been shared with Wildewood Springs and posted here on this blog. So, if anyone asks if someone has talked to the original architect for replacement recommendations compatible with the architecture (a question we asked when we moved here), the answer is yes. 

I am grateful that the recommendations are available so that if residents so choose, they have the information they need.

I am grateful to several neighbors (Rosalie Weiss and Martie Lieberman, to name two) who live or have lived in Wildewood and are long-time contributors and volunteers with the SAF. They connected many of us with other Sarasota School enthusiasts, such as Christopher Wilson, architecture historian at Ringling College, to celebrate the work of Tim Seibert.

Seibert Architects offers WWS inkind architectural services

Soon after moving into Wildewood Springs, I noticed a wide variety of replacement fixtures for the mid-century modern architectural elements of the development. 

I wondered if anyone had asked the original architect for recommendations for the various architectural elements. I began to investigate how we might gain that information for current and future Wildewood unit owners and the Associations that represent their property interest.

I contacted Janet Minker, founder of the Sarasota Architectural Foundation, who put me in touch with Tim Seibert. Seibert responded with a statement about Wildewood and so did architecture historian, Christopher Wilson. Wilson's entire article is here.

Best of all, Seibert contacted Sam Holladay, who is now the primary architect of Seibert Architects, asking him to meet with a few Board members and neighbors.

Holladay agreed.

Over a two-year time frame, Holladay and his assistant, Olivia, made on-site visits in preparation to offer replacement suggestions to uphold the original architectural design of Tim Seibert. All of this work was done in-kind. 

Olivia makes an onsite visit.

Wildewood Springs is one of Seibert's early designs. He is a leader of the Sarasota School of Architecture movement and prolific designer. In November 2017, he was honored and celebrated for his work in central Florida.

I am delighted to share Sam Holladay's architectural recommendations for WWIIA with the larger Wildewood Springs Associations.

Recommendations

Recommendation Sheet

Holladay asks us to point out that these are recommendations and may need additional work (such as implementation, i.e. electrically related improvements, especially in the trash and bike areas). 

This information is offered to all residents and their Associations who hope to maintain the midcentury modern architecture of the hidden jewel that is Wildewood Springs. We thank Sam Holladay and Tim Seibert for their generosity.

SarasotaMOD honors Edward J. "Tim" Seibert in November

The architect of Wildewood Springs, Edward J. “Tim” Seibert, is being honored by SarasotaMOD this year. If you want to learn more about the Sarasota School of Architecture and tour other homes and buildings designed by Seibert, as well as see mid-century modern landscapes, visit SarasotaMOD.com. Some events are free and some are ticketed.

A chat with Tim Seibert about Wildewood before the Hiss Studio Talk

Hiss Studio. Designed and built in 1952 by Tim Seibert. 

Photo credit: Sarasota Architecture Foundation.

In November I attended the Hiss Studio Talk given by Tim Seibert (architect of Wildewood Springs) and Carl Abbott. This was an event organized by the Sarasota Architectural Foundation as part of Sarasota Modern Week.

They talked about the Hiss Studio/House, which was designed by Tim. It's located in Lido Shores. Here is a photograph I took after entering the front door.

Before the talk, Tim and I talked about Wildewood Springs and our experience living on Longboat Key (I lived on LBK for 23 years, when there were many rattlesnakes!) Though we've exchanged emails, this was the first time I met him, someone I've long admired. I'm grateful for his choice to design the Wildewood structure under the tree canopy utilizing over-sized doors, protection from the sun, cross-ventilation, and sensitivity to the natural environment. I feel like I'm outside even when I'm inside.

Lynn Seibert took our picture. 

Tim Seibert, Susan Michael Barrett

ABOUT PHILIP HISS AND TIM SEIBERT (more information on this video)
Philip Hiss is a bit of a hero to local teachers. "He was a father of seven children. He realized that to make a change he'd have to get involved in the schools (Lorrie Muldowney)." So, he did.

As chair of the Sarasota County School Board, Hiss worked with his fellow board members and the superintendent of schools to learn about and use architecture to create schools that enhance learning. He guided the board away from having one monolithic building to a cluster setting of many buildings oriented to avoid direct sunlight, designed to let the air flow through, and easy access for teachers and students to work outdoors. 

"[Philip Hiss and the other founders] were a half century ahead of their time in promoting active, hands-on learning to achieve competence and real mastery. The concepts of New College's education philosophy...appealed to the every best students across the country. Such was New College's unique role in the world of academia...." (New College). 

"What is the value of Seibert's architecture in Wildewood Springs?"

Wildewood Springs, Pineneedle Village. 

Sunday morning gathering, October 23, 2016. 

This is a copy of information I gathered to share with my neighbors with the intent of encouraging maintenance and preservation of the architectural integrity of Wildewood Springs IIA. I read the following out loud at a Board Meeting on October 25, 2016:

My husband and I chose Wildewood IIA because of its oak grove habitat and the architecture. Our structure was designed by a celebrated founder of the Sarasota School of Architecture, Edward J. (Tim) Seibert. Tim and the late Paul Neal and Paul's son Pat collaborated to build Wildewood Springs in the late 70s and early 80s.

Something that seemed particularly important about this development is that it was not intended as high-end; rather, it is an example of an aesthetically beautiful structure designed with sensitivity to its natural surroundings for the middle class.

In the way that forty years ago Paul Neal chose not to clear-cut this live oak grove and Seibert designed a structure to honor the habitat, I feel a responsibility to honor and preserve it. 

I wondered if you, my Wildewood neighbors, were aware of the undiscovered jewel we reside, and if you wanted to honor the architectural integrity. 

I wondered if the Board would be interested in pausing to gather information from an architect familiar with the Sarasota School/Sarasota Modern to make more careful, informed decisions.

As a first step to learn more, I asked a few professionals for opinions about the aesthetic and economic architectural value of Wildewood IIA which I hoped would encourage us to begin to learn together.

These are the responses I received.

Image credit: Tim Seibert, SarasotaMOD

Tim Seibert, architect, Wildewood Springs

Paul Neal and I worked closely on this project over several years. We took great care to locate and inventory the trees on the property and to design the unit groupings in intimate clusters around the natural landscape. You might say this was a pioneering example of “environmentally sensitive and sustainable” land use in what was a moderately priced, high-density condominium project.  It was certainly unique when compared to other Florida condominium projects of that era. Developers of time were rarely known for their attention to design or sensitive land use. The design represents the logical evolution of the Sarasota School of Architecture, which embodied clarity of concept, purity of geometrical forms and sensitivity to the environment. I further developed the concept in the award winning Bayport Project on Longboat Key and 222 Beach Road on Siesta Key.

I briefly looked over the Historic Landmark Designation Amendment you sent a link to. Under “Criteria”, one could say the project has “integrity” in the two criteria of design and setting. Wildwood might also be eligible as a “district” for its distinctive architectural characteristics under Criteria D.  It would be worth exploring with the County. Certainly in the future it may be eligible because of age. In any event, it would be prudent to preserve the architectural integrity of the original design, if not for the potential tax benefits, then for future resale. 

I believe Sam Holladay has done some research on replacement louver windows for Bay Plaza and may have some useful information.  He can offer guidance on maintaining the original design integrity.

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance,

Best regards,

 TIM

Edward J. Seibert, FAIA

Image credit: Janet Minker, Tampa Bay Times

Janet Minker
Chair, Sarasota Architecture Foundation

SAF strongly supports any plan to maintain and restore the integrity of the original design of Wildewood Springs.

Image credit: Christopher Wilson, SarasotaMOD

Christopher Wilson, BArch, MA, PhD

Teaches architecture design and history at Ringling College of Art and Design

Christopher walked around Pineneedle, Wildewood IIA. He said, “There are a few things you can do right now that will immediately honor Seibert’s design—change the address numbers (he said he could suggest a few options), maintain the Seibert louvered windows facing and visible from the parking lot, replace the early 18th century lamp-post top piece with an architecturally appropriate top, and choose and uniformly install one architecturally compatible wall light selection.”

Image credit: Martie Lieberman, Modern Sarasota

Marty Lieberman
Sotheby Realtor and unit owner, Springdale Village

I purchased my home (a villa in Springdale Village) in Wildewood Springs September of 2012 because it was designed by Seibert Architects. I specialize in listing and selling architectural properties, (see www.modernsarasota.com) and was attracted to Wildewood for its beautiful architecture, nestled into a lush, jungle environment. I have sold a number of Wildewood condos to friends who purchased because they desired architecture and asked me - "where do YOU live?" - and when they saw Wildewood, they found it to be exactly what they wanted, too.

I polished my concrete floors, painted the interior, installed tract lighting in all the main rooms, and moved in. Shortly afterward, writer Chris Angerman, Sarasota Herald Tribune "Market Snapshot" came to see my unit and learn about Wildewood Springs. His article for Herald Tribune (with photos by Harold Bubil) can be found HERE: http://realestate.heraldtribune.com/2013/04/12/market-snapshot-wildewood-springs-bradenton/

To me, Wildewood Springs would look bare and plain without the exterior louvered coverings. I see these louvers on many Seibert-designed properties in Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Longboat. The louvered window coverings are kept up and considered an important part of their properties' exterior beauty. They also have utility, as the louvered coverings protect the windows from strong winds and harsh sunlight. Mine are in good shape and work properly, providing just the right amount of light, shade and privacy. They are an important part of the architectural integrity of our property. Please encourage Wildewood's board of directors to keep them and continue to maintain them, along with all the other exterior features of the property. Architectural integrity increases property values. Without information and resources, architectural integrity can erode over time, bit-by-bit, unless owners become aware of compatible, appropriate choices.

Image credit: Lorrie Muldowney, Herald-Tribune

Lorrie Muldowney
Consultant in planning and historic preservation

On September 19^th, the County Commission enacted a law called the Historic Landmark Amendment that entitles the owner of a historic property to get a tax exemption for 10 years on the value of the improvements made to that property to maintain it. I asked Lorrie if and how this law might help owners of property in Wildewood  IIA. She responds:

The property would need to be historically designated to be eligible for the exemption and the exemption would apply only to increased valuation related to a project. I am assuming the Manatee county program will be similar to the Sarasota county program since they are both based upon state enabling legislation though there can be differences in interpretation.

I think your first consideration would be to determine if the building would be eligible for historic designation—this is based upon the age, significance and integrity of the building. You might want to start with your preservation planner in the county and ask if there are strict age limitations associated with the historic designation program, many but not all require that buildings are 50 years old or older unless they are exceptionally important which could be the case with this Tim Seibert building. 

MY HOPE AND REQUEST  
My hope is that the Board will consider and implement a plan to maintain and preserve the architectural integrity of Wildewood IIA:

•        educate owners about the significance of the architecture
•        find a way to assist owners, when needed, in maintaining and repairing the louvered windows that face the parking area
•        ask Seibert Architects (or an architect professional) for counsel to select address numbers, front door and screen door options that residents may use for replacement; consider inviting owners to vote on one option from the architect's selection.
•        ask Seibert Architects (or an architect professional) for counsel to choose architecturally appropriate lights— wall, and a post-lamp top piece, and make a plan to pay for these light replacements in Wildewood IIA; consider inviting neighbors to vote on one option from the architect's selection. 
•    consider the possibility of WWIIA's Association taking on an annual maintenance of the louvered windows facing the parking lot
•        clearly communicate specifications for quality window and door replacement
•        bring more transparency to the process of architectural change

Sam Holladay of Seibert Architects has experience guiding condominium boards in this process.

Several local window and door shops offer maintenance and replacement parts for the louvered windows. 

A Seibert smile

This photograph capture looks like a smile. A Seibert smile! Why hello lovely building.

The standing lamp-post light fixture is not part of the original mid-modern Seibert design. (It is an early 18th century, candle-stick replication indicating that the top piece was added later.) The wall lights likely are not original because they differ unit-to-unit.

Wood-louvered window is a "Tim Seibert special"

Wood louvered single hung window, Wildewood Springs

The original vision of the wood-louvered windows was to maximize ventilation and allow them to be partially open during Florida’s summer sun showers. Pat Neal calls them a "Tim Seibert special" (correspondence between Susan Michael Barrett and Pat Neal, December 2015). 

The window used in Wildewood Springs is a single hung window with a louvered manufactured insert. (The wood-louvered single and double hung windows were also used in other high-end buildings in our area.) 

The difference between a single and double hung window is here.

Wildewood's original wood-louvered windows are single hung and were made by a company called Clearview Windows. This company is no longer in business.

However, the original louvered windows are available as replacement windows with one difference: the wood louvers are made of aluminum (to meet hurricane code) and can be painted to match the color of the wood louver. (The original color chosen by Seibert for the wood slates was dark brown.) 

The hurricane-grade louvered windows are manufactured by Sol-A-Trol in Miami and available through reputable Florida window companies. Tony Soler (owner) writes (December 2015): 

"We have [this window] Miami-Dade to 2010 NOA code and are running thermal simulations to the .60 u-code presently required to update to 2014 code."

I sought a quote for a hurricane-grade louvered window as a replacement for the wood-louvered window. I had heard that a louvered window was no longer available. My purpose in seeking a quote was to prove that a compatible, replacement louvered window is available. 

So this is one quote for one size of a Sol-A-Trol louvered window (quoted by Tom Morlock, owner of Mister Window, a small retail company in Palmetto, Florida, 7/26/16). The cost reduces significantly by the number of windows ordered. Still, it is fair to say that a hurricane-grade replacement window will be expensive. However, the "Seibert-special" original window was expensive for its time, also.

Repair and replacement parts for the wood-louvered windows are available from Mister Window or Sun Window and Door. Though the Clearview handle on the wood-louvered single hung window is now obsolete, some window companies still carry them. The wood slats can be made and painted.

Our wood-louvered windows continue to function beautifully. We love the look and feel proud to maintain the integrity of Seibert's original design.

Oh, and the enjoyment of an early morning rain with the window open—pure delight. 

This is a photograph of me looking out during a rain shower. I notice that the monarch caterpillars feasting on the milkweed in our front garden scurry to hide under the leaves to wait out the storm. Now that's something: leaf umbrellas!