Seaside is a tiny 80-acre tract of Florida land, along the panhandle of Gulf of Mexico (nationally regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S.). This little town on the Florida coast created New Urbanism and “Smart Growth”, and serves as an example of new American town living for developers, builders and architects nationally.
“Seaside, Fla. This is a real old-fashioned small town, built from scratch since 1981. Developer Robert Davis and planners Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk have laid down simple, thoughtful rules derived from epicenters of charm such as Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, with their narrow streets, porches, alleys, wood siding, pitched roofs and absence of picture windows. On this master plan they let individual owners (148 so far) execute their own versions of the Seaside housing code with personal architects. The heterogeneity is real; the harmony is deep. Seaside could be the most astounding design achievement of its era and, one might hope, the most influential.”
Design: Best of the Decade: Design, Time Magazine
Monday, January 1, 1990
Small lots and a simple building code offered rising-star architects the opportunity to exercise their design skills. Small custom home builders caught the wave and developed the craftsmanship style of the new spirit. Magazine publishers loved to feature these new designs which furthered credibility of this new, unique community by the sea. This fueled Seaside lot sales, attracting even more visionary owners and talented architects.
It began as a small beach town harkening back to bygone days of porch fans, simple construction and vernacular architecture. Seaside’s design axioms of authenticity of vernacular architecture, honesty of natural materials, and the great diversity and creative expression offered by the Seaside Code. Over nine years (1990-1999), Gordon Burns maintained a central role in implementing the vision of Seaside, from a plan to a town.
Efforts focused on the huge demand for commercial and meeting space in downtown Seaside’s Town Center. First, faced with the long design/financing/construction lead times of larger, mixed-use buildings, Burns conceived and implemented the idea of smaller, two-story “movable buildings” for Seaside’s Town Center. These simple buildings became extremely high earners. They include the famous Sundog Books, Heavenly’s Shortcake, Fusion Art Glass, and the Central Square Meeting and Conference Center. Later, construction was completed on the four-story, mixed-use Machado/ Silvetti Building, and major renovations were completed for the four-story Holl Building and Krier House.
Other major projects under Burns include Seaside Neighborhood School and the Seaside Pavilion. The East Anniversary Cottages were also constructed (to complement the famous Honeymoon Cottages) and quickly became popular with guests and wedding parties. Six commercial kiosks, major renovations to Bud & Alley’s and Shade’s (both landmark restaurants), plus expansion to Café Spiazzia, Bouzouki’s and Fancy Tomato, all took place under Burns’ direction. Burns also initiated Seaside’s website which continues to evolve and spread the Seaside story.
