Listed for the first time since the early 1980s, the Stark House in Orlando, Florida, offers a modern, organic design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. The home’s original owner, local architect Duane Stark, designed the property with his colleague, Nils Schweizer, a former Taliesin fellow under Frank Lloyd Wright. Surrounded by lush greenery, the concrete residence features a large central volume framed by horizontal planes, including an elevated walkway leading to the poolside gazebo.
Built in 1973, the Stark House was co-designed by local architects Duane Stark and Nils Schweizer. Stark lived in the home until selling it to the current owners in 1981.
Inside, a double-height wall of windows surround a fireplace in the living area, above which an elevated catwalk extends from the lofted master bedroom.
Schweizer is best known for leading the construction of several buildings at Florida Southern College, the “college of tomorrow” designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the largest collection of Wright’s work in the world.
Stark also reportedly assisted with some of the designs at Florida Southern, yet he is better known for his expansion of the modernist, poured-concrete Public Library in Orlando. Schweizer and Stark also collaborated on designs for Orlando International Airport, but this home is one of their few residential collaborations.
Another view of the living room provides a closer look at the fireplace and built-in shelving. The concrete-block fireplace surround is covered in stucco to echo the structure’s facade.
The three-bedroom, two-bath home offers nearly 2,500 square feet of living space. Stark designed the master bedroom area as a “parent’s retreat,” accessible by a spiral staircase and offering its own seating area and cantilevered “crow’s nest” deck off the back. Two children’s bedrooms are located in a separate wing downstairs. Sited on 4.2 acres, the home also offers a backyard pool, screened-in gazebo, and frontage along a winding river. Keep scrolling to see more of the property, currently listed for $865,000.
A wing off of the living area contains the kitchen and dining room. With wrap-around cabinetry and a central island, the kitchen offers an abundance of storage and updated appliances.
A formal dining area is adjacent to the kitchen.
Between the kitchen and living area, a spiral staircase leads up to the loft and master bedroom.
A look at the master bedroom, which was originally designed as a “parent’s retreat” as it’s the only room located on this level. The space also offers an en-suite bath and dressing area.
Around the corner, a small seating area features a second fireplace and overlooks the living room below. A walkway in the corner leads out to a private deck.
A rear view of the home shows the cantilevered “crows nest” deck off of the master suite. An elevated walkway extends from the living area to connect a covered gazebo in the backyard.
The screened-in gazebo offers a tranquil spot to enjoy the lush surroundings.
The gazebo also opens up to a patio surrounding the pool.
Further back on the four-acre property, the Little Econ (Econlockhatchee) River winds through. The tropical property, while it feels miles away from the city, is conveniently located just minutes away from shops and restaurants.
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