Home Design of Tampa
August 26th, 2010 | 
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Every area has influences that drive the local architecture. The local climate, both literally and economically, are the main driving forces. Tampa home architects must understand and respond to those forces.
With the individual client, economic forces can be boiled down to the client’s budget and design requirements.
Purchasing a home in a residential tract, generally speaking, saves on budget. A contractor doing a residential tract can send his contractors from site to site with very little ‘down time’. Since the subcontractor’s job from site to site is repetitive, he/ she can purchase materials in bulk, further saving on budget. Building completion is usually quicker than in the custom home for many of the same reasons. The ‘Florida style’ is arguably a result of more tract homes. Floor plans are often more ‘basic’ in tract homes. The entry ‘look’ very often is dominated by a raised, sometimes arched entry element and by garage doors. Foam surrounds highlight window areas and, as with some custom designs, stucco is the covering of choice. Stucco is a very versatile, climate appropriate enclosure material for both tract and custom homes in or near Tampa. A larger budget for design and construction usually translates into a custom design/ custom home.
Whether tract or custom, Tampa home architects should attend to climate concerns. Coastal areas are, in general, more subject to wind and storm surge damage than interior areas. Building departments in the higher risk areas require, for example, that windows and doors be ’impact resistant’. Impact resistant (resistant to flying debris) windows and doors are, as expected, quite expensive as compared to the non- impact variety. Hip roofs are considered less of a risk and more structurally stable than gable end roofs in high winds. All areas require (metal) connectors from roof trusses to exterior wall and from exterior wall to the foundation. These metal connectors are relatively cheap and fortify the house to a large degree against wind damage.
Water intrusion and mold damage are locally addressed by correct waterproofing systems and use of mold resistant building materials. Wood frame construction at the lower levels is especially vulnerable to mold issues, hence exclusively wood framed homes are not the norm in Florida. Termites and other pests are generally more attracted to wood frame construction. Exterior wood doors are not as common a vinyl or aluminum doors. Masonry construction is a good choice for exterior framing, and is more common. Refer to my website for discussions on framing with ’SIP’ (structural insulated panels). ‘SIP’ is also mold resistant, termite resistant, and has a very high insulation factor and may be the ’up and coming’ building material of choice in the years to come.
The use of efficient and ‘locally appropriate’ climate controls systems are important for not only comfort, but for the ’war against mold’. To those ends, correctly designed mechanical systems keep moisture down and comfort up in our warm, moist climate. Higher ceilings are energy efficient in that cool air stays low. Fans are fairly common in Tampa architecture. Air movement makes a slightly higher thermostat setting very tolerable. Use of traditional skylights and ’solatube’ skylights can help reduce lighting costs and make the living spaces more pleasant. Passive solar techniques, when possible, can give a great ‘leg up’ on reducing home energy costs.
Many of the techniques / materials I’ve reviewed have applications in other areas of the country/ world. It is critical that home architects in Tampa and surrounding areas be familiar with their use and application.
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