Contemporary Architecture, South Tampa

In between old grand mansions and high-rise condo buildings on Bayshore Boulevard there is the occasional contemporary clean line home. The style first came to America when the leaders of the Bauhaus movement left Germany before and during World War II. It came with ideas that "Less is More" and was stated by famed architect - designer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He spoke of the virtues of minimalist aesthetics. No more frou-frou, meaning no more extra ornamentation.

If you live in South Tampa, builders are starting to create more of these homes and developments. Perhaps it is out of the budget planning constraints or an aesthetic ideal that lets a home become a series of architectural planes with squared off windows and doors. No pretending that we live in Morocco, Algeria, or that we are still part of the last colony of Spain.

Street View on MacDill Avenue
Ballast Point Neighborhood

Still other development designers use a cross between minimalism and post-modernism on the Tampa peninsula. Most of these free standing homes are expensive, yet there are condo town-homes that reflect this style and are still very affordable. One such location is MacDill Landing Condos, right on MacDill Avenue just below Gandy Boulevard. This town-home development consists of 28 three story loft units, with secured parking on the first floor, complete with laundry and storage.

Two Story Loft Living

Each construction element is celebrated in these units: concrete polished floors, masonry block walls, corrugated metal ceilings with exposed duct work and fire sprinklers. Keeping with an industrial theme, the stairs are welded metal - painted black, glass block and industrial hurricane proof windows. The living room area has a soaring two story space that lights the entire condo, accompanied with two outdoor balconies.

Warren Platner Chairs and Eero Saarinen Tables with a Clyde Aspevig Painting

The interior space longs for furniture designers that preached the ideals of contemporary quality, especially from the famed Knoll and Herman Miller catalogs. One such unit has used these furniture designers including, Eero Saarinen tables, Mies van der Rohe dining chairs, Warren Platner living room seating with matching side tables, and an Ole Wanscher buffet built and signed by A.J. Iversen.

Mies van der Rohe Chairs with a John Black's painting of Gloucester

To contrast all these contemporary ideals, the owners have combined antique cabinets and chest of drawers, as well as artwork to prevent a too sterile of an atmosphere. Two 1980s french provincial Bernhardt chairs with their original orange velour fabric anchor the television area. The over-sided white and masonry walls create gallery type spaces that begs for large paintings and smaller works in the more intimate areas.

TV Console and Painting TV TV by Josef Levi

MacDill Landings is within walking distance to Publix, Target, Starbucks, drugstores, and numerous restaurants. Additionally, it is close to Bayshore Boulevard and the Tampa Yacht Club, the walks along the bay reveal great views of downtown Tampa. The neighborhood is continuing to gentrify, a new development was finished in 2019 right across the street and there are two new developments underway on Gandy, just two blocks away. Many investors like the complex due to its location and easy maintenance. It is one of the flew locations in South Tampa that still can be purchased in the upper $250,000 to $300,000 range depending on the condition and location.

Downtown Tampa Across the Bay

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