A Modern Courtship
A Pensacola architect found the “perfect match” homeowners to transform a former racquetball club into a chic home
Strolling downtown Pensacola, you might savor the live oaks and marvel that the Old Christ Church, finished in 1832, still serves the Episcopalian community. While ogling this example of Norman-Gothic architecture, you may walk right by a structure that’s just as awe-inducing—a thoroughly modern home that sits where the YMCA racquetball courts once were.
The construction of this 3,022-square-foot home started in 2022 and wrapped in 2024, yielding two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, an office, an eat-in kitchen, and an open mezzanine above the kitchen that leads to the primary suite. According to Scott Sallis, principal architect at Dalrymple Sallis Architecture in Pensacola, “The entire layout of the home is driven by the bearing walls of the racquetball court. We took a high-ceiling box and made it a fun place to live.”
What makes this striking home so inconspicuous to passersby is that “all the window glazing comes from one side,” says Sallis. “The other side serves as a fire wall that does not allow for windows.”
Another design challenge that Sallis overcame was the narrow lot lines. “The front or street view of the home only has a glass strip to play off the modern theme; this makes it head-turning in a different way.”
Sallis and the homeowners infused what could have been a sterile and soulless space with intrigue and character, which won an American Institute of Architects Design award in 2025. Sallis added some much-needed warmth and texture on the exterior with strategic material selection, using Cumaru, a powder-coated treated wood that doesn’t rot, some Trex decking, and powder-coated aluminum railings that he notes were expensive but worth it.
Moving inside the home is a unique experience. The foyer is outside, accessed through the front gate, and sits underneath a covered courtyard. There, you enter the living room through the sliding doors.
Sallis says, “The homeowners love it. They open the sliders, and their dogs go out [into the courtyard], not into the street.” This outdoor living space has a simple grill area and an inviting seating section. Concrete walls are covered with stucco underneath the railing, and the outdoor flooring features low-maintenance tiles.
From the living room and open galley kitchen, it’s evident that the homeowners love to cook and entertain. Sallis notes, “They like the raised bar for their drinks when friends are over.”
Nods to the homeowners’ interests float around the home, such as the guitars near the bookshelf on the main floor.
“This house is about layers and depth,” Sallis says. “Even the tile on the pantry walls is funky, and [it was] the homeowners’ choice. It makes you want to go in there and make a drink at the party.”
Large-format porcelain tiles run throughout the main floor. The homeowners used rugs, art, pillows, and décor to reduce noise while keeping the space cozy.
In the thoughtfully designed bedroom and bathroom for guests, the homeowners chose a bathroom porcelain tile with thin grout lines to mimic terrazzo and a whimsical piece of art profiling a giraffe.
Climb upstairs to the second floor for a primary suite with more guitars and meaningful layers. Up here, the flooring is wide-plank European white oak. Upon waking, the homeowners open the primary bedroom sliders and enjoy their morning coffee on the private deck under a tree. The highlights of the primary bathroom are the Japanese soaking tub, the zero-entry glass shower, and stunningly practical double vanity.
The mezzanine just outside of the primary suite serves as a lounge area. A green velvety sectional mimics the outdoors and the many indoor plants, creating a relaxing retreat.
Sallis was motivated by the privilege of permission to build a modern home in downtown Pensacola, which has many buildings that are over “450 years old,” he says.
“Modern design is a sight for sore eyes in many districts,” he adds, noting the pressure to respectfully blend with and balance the more historic sites in a city that cherishes the traditional arts, like the opera and symphony. Mission accomplished.
