Only a few exist, but a rare midcentury Florida home designed specifically for our state's balmy climate, is once again for sale in South Pinellas Point.
Known as Vision-Aire homes, and nicknamed "Bird Cage houses" for their unique airey design, this home is just one of 13 built by the late celebrated Florida architect Glenn Q. Johnson, whose work can still be found at the St. Pete Beach Library, the North Shore Aquatic Center, and the Pinellas County Judicial Building, among other well-known structures.
Inspired by dwellings he came across during a tour in the Philippines in WWII, Johnson's Vision-Aire homes were almost always positioned to face southeast (to better catch the breeze), and feature large screened in patios and overhangs, heavy concrete floors, and interior walls built as jalousies for better airflow.
Over time, the homes became known locally as "bird cage homes," for their airy design, and today only a handful are still in existence.
Located at 749 69th Ave. S, in St. Pete's Bay Vista Park neighborhood, this particular "Bird Cage" was built in 1954, and features an addition completed by Johnson himself in 1967.
The 2,122-square-foot home comes with two bedrooms, and two bathrooms, as well as a ton of cedar panelling, a vintage rosewood Cado wall system, and plenty of upgrades.
According to property records, the home sold in 2022 for $650,000 and is currently asking $758,000.
