Tampa Residence Lights Up Art

by Kris Sivertson, ASLA

Located at the east end of the walled pool area, this modern, glossy, vertical freeform stands six feet high, lit in a soft wash by recessed fixtures to avoid glare off of the shiny surfaces. The sculpture can be viewed from the curved glass-lined bathroom to the left, as well as from the second story master bedroom.

A contemporary private residence in the mature Westshore area of Tampa, near Tampa Bay and downtown, provided an exceptional opportunity for two landscape architects to collaborate with a local architect and three distinguished artists in creating a unique outdoor art gallery. Architect Sol Fleischman, FAIA, designed a house with walled pool area and side courtyard that would serve as display spaces for commissioned artwork. Tom Balsley, ASLA, of New York and Kris Sivertson, ASLA, of Sarasota were responsible for planting/paving design and lighting, respectively. This collaboration resulted in a dramatic lighting solution by Sivertson, who also did the installation.

This mobile, located at the southwest corner of the pool area and viewable from virtually anywhere within the residence, is engineered to create a dance of shadows. The stainless steel frame holds the black blades (see close-up below), which move according to the breeze. The shadows are created by washing the blades with an uplight.

The couple building the house are both art collectors with contemporary tastes. The husband is a mechanical engineer, so his perceptions are influenced by understanding how things move and interact. The lighting was, from the beginning, intended to let the viewer see a different aspect of the proposed art than seen under the tropical sun. While the site was wooded and many large specimen tropical plants were added by Balsley, the challenge was to create a night setting that enhanced the quite different aspects of each piece of art. Ambient interior light from the two story residence, with large glass areas, had to be considered. Other site lighting, such as bollards at the entry drive, does not impact the art display spaces.

This sculpture court housing, the ?EUR??,,????'??Blower Blossom?EUR??,,????'?? provides quite a view from the family room. One may walk along the path in front of the sculpture to get a close-up on the flower?EUR??,,????'???s brilliant colors. Notice how the darkness between the sculpture and the uplit bamboo in the foreground created the feeling of depth and frames the sculpture for view

In the walled pool area, two major artworks bracket the pool. The smaller is a modern, glossy, colorful vertical freeform of aluminum 6 feet high. This is uplit with recessed fixtures to avoid glare of the shiny surfaces. A soft wash from these units, in a bed of ivy, is a contrast to the uplighting of the date palm sited behind the sculpture.

Emulating the lighting that might be used in a museum gallery, this close-up of the brightly colored ?EUR??,,????'??Flower Blossom?EUR??,,????'?? shows the shadow play created by downlighting the sculpture with three narrow-controlled beams.

The most unusual artwork, created to please the engineer, is a mobile that moves gently with the breeze off the Bay. It is a stainless steel pole frame with large, flat black blades that can move in two planes. It is uplit with strong, narrow beams to capture highlights off the tubular surfaces and wash the moving blades, creating shadows in motion.

The kind of sensitivity to outdoor spaces with heavy planting, special paving and unique art that is expressed in this residence is earned through a lot of experience and hard work. The inevitable result of striving for excellence in lighting effects adds to the overall harmony and enjoyment of the owners and their guests. They know art, and they know what they like.

Aritsts:

Flower - John Henry
Aluminum Freeform - Ida Kolmeyer
Stainless/Black Mobile - Ed Hendricks

Landscape Architect - Tom Balsley, ASLA, New York City

Lighting Design/Build - Kris Sivertson, ASLA, Sarasota
Lightscape, Sarasota, FL

Architect - Sol Fleischman, FAIA, Tampa, FL