Lee Parade of Homes: Will Stout's Funky Fish House at Cape Harbour

It almost seems a tad bit trivial to call Cape Harbour's latest architectural introduction "funky," as in Funky Fish Houses.

These homes, which emphasize vertical living, are downright cool. Sure, they may at first seem a little unusual for an area that's been dominated by Mediterranean architecture the past decade.

Yet similar homes already exist in Southwest Florida - just off the coast in Pine Island Sound. Similar to the picturesque stilted fishing houses that rise from our local waters, Cape Harbour's rendition is an Old Florida-meets-Key West combination that's just so apropos for the waterfront.

The first of 19 planned fish houses was built by Marvin Development and debuts during the LBIA Parade of Homes, when developer Will Stout, who's making the move from his Cape Harbour estate to a fish house, opens its door.

Parade visitors will be invited to explore the home's multiple floors and experience its connection with the water by stepping onto a deck that extends over the water.

These Funky Fish Houses offer two-, three- and four-story designs that are customized by buyer and builder, painted in a cotton candy palette reminiscent of Key West and feature observation decks and balconies perched along the water's edge.

Actually, all lots extend 25 feet over the water.

Now that's true waterfront living.