Lunardi Architecture

Leonardo Lunardi, 40

1855 University Parkway, Sarasota

Originally from Parma, Italy, Leonardo Lunardi lived in Milan before moving to Sarasota in 1998. He finished high school at Cardinal Mooney and graduated from the University of South Florida in 2006 with a master's degree in architecture, where he was awarded an AIA Gold Medal, the school's highest honor.

He focuses on residential modern homes, like this one he worked on under one of the Sarasota School of Architecture's founding members, Carl Abbott, before starting his own firm. 

Before setting out on his own, Lunardi also joined Halflants + Pichette Studio for Modern Architecture in Sarasota as a project manager. The firm is known for modern-style homes and projects, like this one.

These days, Lunardi also pivots to less glamorous but much-needed projects, working with local developer Mark Vengroff to build affordable multifamily apartments. He's only 40, but Lunardi doesn't feel that his age has gotten in the way of success in the industry, and says he feels lucky that clients choose to work with him in a city that has no shortage of “incredibly talented offices.”

How would you define your style?

“Because I worked with Carl Abbott and Halflants + Pichette, the higher-end, modern, residential projects are where a lot of my time has gone. I think the Sarasota School of Architecture [point of view] can get overplayed, but working with Carl, the lessons and traditions of the early modern movement in Sarasota are things I pay attention to. My personal take is more client-first. I’m floorplan driven. Having a good floor plan makes or breaks a house and comes second to aesthetics. I think it's a reaction to having worked with projects in which function follows form. Form is beautiful, but it can sacrifice function.

"I still like a modern vernacular. But if you're still doing the same thing, you're 40 years behind. We now know we should design with shade and sustainability in mind. I think we all aim to do that now, whether we reference the Sarasota School or not." 

What are trends Sarasota clients crave?

“The pandemic pushed this to the forefront, but even before that, the house now has a work component—even if it's just hobby work. So the house is becoming one central place, and society has become more solitary as a result. People are building their own centers, where all the activities are under one roof, which is pushing homes to be bigger and maxed out. Clients want to squeeze every square foot out of a site, which is hard for me because it's about relief and tension and inside and out. It makes it harder to make meaningful spaces.

"Home tech has made leaps and bounds. Even projects that are just two years apart show more advanced options. Many clients enjoy automation and everything is controlled from their phones and is interconnected, particularly in larger homes. There are no light switches anymore." 

What’s an architectural trend you love less?

“When you build a house it's an investment, whether you're rich or you can just barely afford it. A lot of people base the design process on resale value, and that's what's leading to the increased square footage and elements they don’t necessarily need, but they think [future] buyers want to see. I wish people built for themselves a little more than worried about resale, because it's often not ideal for aging in place, for example. I try to point them in a direction that helps inform that."

"At the same time, the market rewards square footage, so it's only logical they want to build that way.”