Photo: Francis Dzikowski / OTTO
In acknowledgment of its architectural stewardship, Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella Residence has been awarded the prestigious Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes by the World Monuments Fund. The award recognizes the rehabilitation that was undertaken by owners Anne and Bob Essner to restore the home’s integrity and reconstruct its iconic shade structure, which had been lost for decades, and was led by Hall Architects. These efforts have not only saved the home but have also set a benchmark for the preservation of other modernist structures in the region.
Photo: Kelvin Dickinson
The Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes is an honor established by the World Monuments Fund (WMF) to recognize and celebrate outstanding efforts in the preservation, restoration, and ongoing care of modernist residential architecture. This award highlights the importance of safeguarding modernist homes that are significant for their architectural innovation, cultural value, and historical importance.
Purpose of the Award
The award aims to encourage homeowners, architects, conservators, and organizations to value and maintain modernist homes. By doing so, it raises awareness of the unique challenges and opportunities involved in preserving modernist architecture, which often features innovative materials and construction techniques that require specialized care. The 2026 World Monuments Fund / Knoll Modernism Prize will be formally presented during a special program at Modernism Week in Palm Springs on February 18, 2026. This will mark the first time the award is given outside New York.
About the Umbrella Residence
Designed in the early 1950s by Paul Rudolph, the Umbrella Residence stands as an influential example of the Sarasota School of Architecture—a regional movement that reimagined modernist principles for Florida’s climate and landscape. Situated in Sarasota, Florida, the house was Rudolph’s response to the region’s intense sunlight and frequent rainstorms. Its defining feature is the large, flat “umbrella” roof that appears to float above the structure, providing shade and shelter while enabling cooling breezes to flow through the open-plan interior.
Photo: Francis Dzikowski / OTTO
The roof, originally constructed of wood and supported by slender columns, extends dramatically beyond the walls of the house to create shaded outdoor living areas, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside. Glass walls and sliding doors further reinforce this connection, allowing panoramic views of the lush surroundings while encouraging natural ventilation. The home’s minimal ornamentation and emphasis on structural clarity embody Rudolph’s commitment to functional beauty.
About the World Monuments Fund
The World Monuments Fund is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world. Through initiatives like the Stewardship Award for Modernist Homes, WMF fosters appreciation, protection, and sustainable stewardship of significant places.
For those passionate about architecture and history, the Umbrella Residence serves as a reminder of what can be achieved when creativity, vision, and commitment converge. Its recognition by the World Monuments Fund marks a milestone in the ongoing journey to preserve the best of our built environment for generations to come.