St. Pete’s Vision-Aire homes, also known as the “Bird Cage” houses, were designed by the late architect Glenn Q. Johnson in the early 1950s, and were specifically built for Florida’s hot, humid climate.
He only built 15 in the South Pinellas Point area (and a few near Crystal River), and only about 13 of them are still left. Now, one of them is on the market.
Located at 724 69th Ave S, the home was completed in 1954 and features all the tappings of a classic bird cage, like the expansive screened porches, tongue-and-groove cedar ceilings, and solid concrete block construction.
The Vision-Aire design was inspired by dwellings Johnsom came across while on tour in the Philippines during WWII. Though they’re all a little different, but Johnson’s “Bird Cages” typically have the some common characteristics. To better catch the breeze, Vision-Aires are almost always positioned to face southeast and feature large screened in patios and overhangs, heavy concrete floors, and interior walls built as jalousies for better airflow.
Besides the “Bird Cage” homes, Johnson was responsible for quite a few notable buildings in Pinellas County, including the St. Pete Beach Library, the North Shore Aquatic Center, and the Pinellas County Judicial Building.
This particular “Bird Cage” comes with 1,495-square-feet of living space, as well as three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It also features a private guest suite on the first floor, a floating galvanized pipe staircase, terrazzo flooring and more, says the listing.
According to property records, the home was last sold in 1971 for $29,000. Today, the home is asking $680,000 and the listing agents are Lari Averbeck and Eileen Bedinghau of RE/MAX Metro.
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