For the first time ever, a Tampa Bay home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protege and prominent Central Florida architect Nils M. Schweizer, is now for sale in Brandon.
Located at 1602 Cottagewood Dr. the home was designed and completed by Schweizer in 1969 for Bill and Trudy Carey, of the Carey Cattle Company, and has remained in the family since, according to property records.
Like his mentor, Schweizer was known for his use of concrete block, horizontal overhangs, and floor-to-ceiling window walls to help blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. He was also known for a principle he called “Build to heal,” which involved designing spaces to capture as much sunlight as possible.
Following World War II, Schweizer studied under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin East in Wisconsin in early-1946. In 1953, Wright’s firm sent Schweizer to Florida to oversee the design of Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
After opening his own firm in Winter Park in 1958, Schweizer would go to help design over 100 homes and buildings in the Orlando area, including notable projects like the Orlando International Airport, Epcot Center’s Mexican pavilion, the Loch Haven Art Center, and St. Luke Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Orlando.
This particular 5,282-square-foot home comes with a total of five bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows, a two-story stacked rock waterfall, a conversation pit, a pool and outdoor kitchen, a sports court, and more, says the listing.
Schweizer passed away at the age of 62 in 1988 after a brief illness.
The home is asking $1.17 million, and the listing agent is Steven Moran of Keller Williams Suburban Tampa.
Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Tampa Bay’s story through the lens of our community’s historic and colorful homes. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s real estate features are not ads, and are strictly operated through our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home that we should highlight? Let us know, and email cwolf@cltampa.com.



























































