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The Dream Home floor plan follows a dual-axis design bringing together themes
of expansive boardwalks and summer camp structures in dramatic fashion. Architect
Randy Johnson of Urban Design Group arrived at the concept the moment he first
visited the site.
The design also allowed Johnson to nestle this special Dream Home into the remarkable
northwest Florida landscape, leaving a very light footprint on the land and creating
a cohesive relationship between the dwelling and its surroundings.
“The whole axial scheme came about that way,” says Johnson. “Because,
on the site, of course you have this wonderful bay. And the marsh is equally as
strong. You get eastern morning light for the bedrooms, and you have the bedrooms
beside the marsh. The marsh is so tranquil. What a great spot to orient the bedrooms.”
Through this concept, Johnson developed a process of discovery that rewards visitors
with constant surprises. The moment you approach the front door, the vertical
boardwalk stretches straight out, beckoning you to the bay. But Johnson made sure
to not give away the entire view. With the covered porch and summer kitchen between
the front of the house and the water, the design invites guests to satisfy their
curiosity by traversing the entire compound.
“To come in the front door and immediately be eight feet away from the outside
says to the guests that this house is all about living outside—that was
the intention,” Johnson says.
From the entryway, the horizontal boardwalk leads to all the inside spaces. This
series of smaller living spaces evoke the architect’s vision of a grouping
of old Florida summer camp structures. In practical terms, the house is carefully
designed to bring together family and guests. To the right, the hallway opens
to the great room, guest bedroom, spa area and culminates at the ultimate personal
luxury retreat—the master bedroom.
To the left, up the stairs, is the kids’ room, access to the garage and
the invaluable mudroom. Exit the house and immediately discover the delightful
doggie Dream Home and an orchid-filled greenhouse.
But as beautiful and practical as the design of the dwelling is, it’s the
outdoors that truly makes this Dream Home special. Project director Jack Thomasson
succinctly explains the vision behind this year’s Dream Home, which lies
on East Bay and is the first waterfront retreat of RiverCamps, a planned community
of the St. Joe Company.
“You don’t start with a house plan and find a place to build that
house,” says Thomasson. “You start with the land. And it’s true.
You’ve got to design a house that works with the environment. You’ll
never find a site for a pre-constructed house that is the perfect site to complement
that house. But you can design a house that is the perfect complement to the site,”
he says. “It is a luxury...and that is what makes a dream home a Dream Home.”
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