The Solstice House
Sarasota · Florida

The Solstice House

"Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn."Ralph Waldo Emerson

7142 Westmoreland Drive · Rising above Bowlees Creek, Sarasota
A Waterfront Residence

Five levels of glass and light, rising from the water toward the summer solstice sun.

The Solstice House stands where Bowlees Creek opens into Sarasota Bay — a modern tower of terraces sited so precisely that, on the longest day of the year, the setting sun shines straight through the home. Water surrounds it on nearly every side, and every room is turned toward it.

The Setting

On the water, and of the water

Positioned at the mouth of Bowlees Creek with sweeping, protected water on three sides, the residence offers water views from every room — culminating in a 270-degree panorama across Sarasota Bay and the surrounding waterways from the rooftop terraces.

Step out the back and onto the water: a private dock, kayaks and paddleboards, and calm creek at the edge of the lawn. Dolphins work the current at dawn; boats drift past at dusk. Downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle, and the Gulf beaches are minutes away — yet the house feels a world apart.

The residence seen from across the water with a boat passing Aerial view of Bowlees Creek and the surrounding waterways Private dock and boat lift at the water's edge
The Architecture

A striking modern tower, resolved to its site

Sheer white planes, walls of glass, and precise notes of color rise five levels above the water. The design is the work of Halflants + Pichette — one of Florida's most decorated modern practices — whose process-oriented approach resists preconceived solutions in favor of architecture that answers directly to light, water, and the movement of the sun.

An exterior stair climbs the water's edge to a fully occupiable rooftop, a gesture that recalls Adalberto Libera's 1937 Villa Malaparte on Capri. Inside, wide-plank white oak floors and glass-lined walls carry that clarity through every level.

Halflants + Pichette →
The striking modernist facade with color accents and glass
The five-level white tower from the garden The street approach to the residence, with glass entry and drive
Five Levels

A vertical journey, from the water to the sky

The house unfolds upward — beginning at the water's edge and rising, level by level, to an open rooftop above Sarasota Bay. Each floor turns toward the light and the water in its own way.

Pool and spa at the water's edge with palms
01 The Water's Edge

Pool, spa & dock

At ground level, the home meets the water directly. A pool and spa sit steps from a private dock, framed by palms and lawn, with kayaks and paddleboards ready at the creek's edge — the base camp for a life lived on the water.

The great room with fireplace and walls of glass
02 The Living Level

Great room & kitchen

The main living level is a single luminous volume: a great room with fireplace, a chef's kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling glass that slides away so the interior opens directly onto terraces and fire. The bay becomes the far wall of the room.

The formal dining room framed by glass
03 Gather & Dine

Dining, framed by water

A formal dining room, wrapped in glass and lit by a sculptural chandelier, sets the table against swaying palms and warm reflections off the water — intimate dinners with the bay as a backdrop.

The office and library with art and water view
04 Quiet Rooms

Rest, work & retreat

Above the living level, private rooms and a light-filled office and library look out over the creek. Even here, at rest or at work, the water is never out of view.

The rooftop terrace with lounge seating above the bay at sunset
05 The Summit

The rooftop terrace

The climb ends in open sky. The rooftop wraps the water on three sides — fire, lounge, and a 270-degree horizon over Sarasota Bay, where the day resolves into its sunset.

The Rooftop

A 270-degree view of the bay

Fire, lounge, and open sky above Sarasota Bay — the terrace where the whole house has been climbing toward, and where the sunsets are the whole point.

Light & the Solstice

The house keeps time by the sun

Its orientation is not decorative but literal: on the summer solstice, the setting sun aligns with the home's northwest glass. Every evening, the light turns the water gold and pours straight through the rooms.

Palms reflected in a floor-to-ceiling glass wall at dusk
Sunset over Sarasota Bay
Palm silhouettes against an orange solstice sky
Stay Here

A five-level waterfront retreat

Available to guests through ThirdHome, the private residence-exchange club. Best suited to design-minded couples, families with older children, and anyone who appreciates architecture, privacy, and multi-level indoor–outdoor living. Not intended for parties or large gatherings.

Location7142 Westmoreland Dr, Sarasota, FL — the mouth of Bowlees Creek, opening to Sarasota Bay
LayoutFive levels, connected by an exterior water-side stair to the rooftop
Bedrooms / Baths3 Bedrooms · 3 Full & 2 Half Baths
Sleeps8 Guests (King, Full, Full + Twin, plus two bonus rooms)
Size~3,800 sq ft as renovated
WaterPrivate dock, kayaks & paddleboards; direct access from the backyard
AirportSarasota-Bradenton International (SRQ) · ~10 min
Chef's KitchenRooftop Terrace270° Water Views Hot TubFire PitPrivate Dock KayaksPoolWorkout RoomFireplace
View Availability on ThirdHome →
★★★★★

"What a stunning piece of architecture. We were wowed by every room — from the beautiful sunrises to the magical sunsets. There is no other place we wanted to be."

Gail M. · ThirdHome Guest, 2026
★★★★★

"Beautifully designed and perfect for the Florida environment. There is lots of light, and it feels as if one is out in nature at all times. The sunset views were spectacular from every vantage point."

Kathleen P. · ThirdHome Guest, 2026
The Architecture

By one of Florida's most decorated modern practices

The Solstice House is the work of Halflants + Pichette, a Sarasota and Tampa design-build studio whose work has been recognized across the region and the state. Principal Michael Halflants is a recipient of the AIA Florida Medal of Honor for Design — the state's highest individual honor for architectural excellence.

5
Levels to the rooftop
270°
Water panorama
70+
AIA awards to the firm
1
Day the sun aligns

Press & Recognition

Editorial

New home designed to take advantage of sun's location

Sarasota Herald-TribuneRead → Feature

Solstice House — Modern Exterior

HouzzView → Journal

Solstice House

Florida/Caribbean ArchitectRead → Portfolio

Solstice Residence

Halflants + PichetteView →
Get in Touch

Inquiries on the Solstice House

Represented by Interval Group · Sarasota, FL