Building near the water in Tampa Bay creates an unusual design challenge.
The Pasadena: Where Flood-Zone Engineering Meets Waterfront Living
Building near the water in Tampa Bay creates an unusual design challenge.
You want the views.
You want the pool.
You want outdoor living, balconies, natural light and the feeling of being connected to the water.
But the same location that creates that lifestyle also demands a very different approach to construction.
The Pasadena by KH BUILD was created around that reality.
It is a luxury waterfront home designed specifically for Florida flood zones—combining elevated construction, storm-resistant materials and carefully protected mechanical systems with more than 7,100 square feet under roof.
The result isn’t a home that simply survives its location.
It’s a home designed to take advantage of it.
Built for the flood zone. Designed for the waterfront.
One Floor Plan. Completely Different Homes.
One of the first things you notice when visiting these Pasadena homes is that two nearly identical floor plans can look completely different.
The homes can be mirrored.
The facades can change.
Rooflines can change.
Exterior materials, lighting, architectural details and finishes can all create a completely different personality.
That flexibility is central to the Pasadena.
KH BUILD provides the architectural framework, but the final home can be shaped around the property, homeowner and surrounding neighborhood.
A floor plan doesn’t have to dictate what your home looks like.
It gives us a starting point.
Designed From the Beginning for a Flood Zone
The Pasadena isn’t a conventional house that was later modified to deal with a flood-zone property.
The flood-zone requirements influence the design from the beginning.
The structure uses concrete construction extending from the foundation to the roofline, creating a strong building envelope designed for Florida’s coastal environment.
Impact-resistant PGT windows provide additional storm protection throughout the home.
Electrical systems and other critical components are positioned with flood conditions in mind.
Even exterior outlets and systems are located above vulnerable elevations where appropriate.
This is an important distinction.
Successful coastal construction isn’t about adding one hurricane feature or installing impact windows at the end.
The entire structure needs to work as a system.
More Than 7,100 Square Feet Under Roof
The Pasadena shown in Richard Adams’ tour includes approximately:
4,100 sq. ft. of living space
2,400 sq. ft. of garage space
More than 7,100 sq. ft. total under roof
That scale creates possibilities you normally don’t associate with an elevated flood-zone home.
The garage alone can comfortably accommodate multiple vehicles while leaving significant room for storage, workshop space or recreational use.
Depending on configuration, there is room for approximately six cars.
For waterfront homeowners with vehicles, boats, equipment, bikes, paddleboards and everything else that comes with coastal living, that space can be extremely valuable.
A Garage Designed for More Than Parking
The lower level is treated as a functional part of the property rather than leftover space beneath an elevated house.
The floor is finished in epoxy.
There are numerous electrical outlets protected by GFI systems.
An EV charger can be pre-wired.
Storage is integrated underneath the stairs.
Belt-driven garage doors reduce operating noise.
Large windows bring natural light into a space that could otherwise feel dark and utilitarian.
And from portions of the garage, you can already see the pool and backyard.
That connection between functional spaces and the waterfront is intentional.
Pool, Spa and Outdoor Living
Step outside and the Pasadena begins to show its other personality.
Natural stone, pool, spa and landscaped outdoor spaces turn the lower portion of the property into a private resort area.
The home can be accessed through multiple routes, including interior stairs, exterior stairs and the residential elevator.
Upstairs, the second-floor lanai extends the living space toward the water.
Trex decking and durable exterior finishes help create a low-maintenance transition between indoor and outdoor areas.
There is also space for an optional outdoor kitchen.
That means dinner, entertaining and family time don’t have to stop at the sliding glass doors.
The home continues outside.
24-Foot Ceilings and Walls of Glass
The main living space is where the scale of the Pasadena becomes immediately apparent.
The ceiling rises approximately 24 feet.
Large windows surround the living area.
Natural light enters from multiple directions.
The waterfront becomes part of the interior architecture.
Instead of treating windows simply as openings in the wall, the Pasadena uses them to frame the environment around the house.
On this particular property, water can be seen from both the front and back of the home.
That is exactly what waterfront architecture should do.
You spent money to live near the water.
The house should let you experience it.
A Kitchen Built for Entertaining
The open kitchen centers around an approximately 10-foot island with seating for four.
Upgraded Bosch appliances provide the main cooking platform, while the adjacent wet bar expands the entertaining space.
The wet bar includes features such as a built-in coffee system, wine cooler, service sink and additional cabinetry.
Behind the kitchen is a substantial pantry.
Even that space benefits from the home’s waterfront orientation and natural light.
The kitchen, dining room, wet bar, lanai and living room work as one connected entertaining environment.
The Primary Suite Stays on the Main Living Level
The primary bedroom is positioned on the main living floor and separated from the secondary bedrooms.
That creates privacy while still keeping the suite directly connected to the primary living spaces.
The bedroom is oversized enough to include a separate sitting area.
Built-in cabinetry can accommodate amenities such as a mini refrigerator or wine cooler.
From there, the suite continues into a large primary bathroom with wall-to-wall tile, dual vanities, standalone tub and walk-in shower.
The adjoining walk-in closet can be customized around the homeowner’s storage requirements.
Instead of treating the primary suite as simply another bedroom, the Pasadena gives it the scale and separation of a private retreat.
A Flexible Office or Bonus Room
On the opposite side of the main level is a separate flex room.
In this home, it is configured as an office.
But the room can support different uses depending on the homeowner.
Home office.
Study.
Small guest space.
Library.
Hobby room.
The Pasadena is designed around flexibility because every family uses space differently.
Smart-Home Infrastructure Is Planned In
Modern luxury homes increasingly depend on technology that homeowners never see.
Behind the walls of this Pasadena is low-voltage infrastructure capable of supporting systems such as:
- Security cameras
- Intercoms
- Wi-Fi equipment
- Audio systems
- Smart-home components
Instead of adding these systems as an afterthought, the home can be prepared for them during construction.
Google Nest thermostats provide smart climate control, while the dual-zone HVAC system separates the upper and lower living areas.
400-Amps of Electrical Capacity
Large custom homes require more electrical capacity than they once did.
Pools.
Electric vehicles.
Outdoor kitchens.
Smart-home systems.
Additional HVAC equipment.
Future technology.
The Pasadena shown in the tour uses a 400-amp electrical system designed to support a high level of residential demand.
It also includes two tankless water heaters, helping distribute hot water service across the home.
Planning capacity early makes future upgrades easier.
Upstairs Becomes Its Own Family Zone
The upper level is centered around an open loft or family room.
This gives children or guests their own place to watch television, relax or spend time without occupying the main living room downstairs.
The area can also be pre-wired for speakers, security equipment and intercom systems.
From the loft, you overlook the dramatic main living space below.
It creates visual connection between floors while still giving each level a distinct purpose.
Bedrooms That Don’t Feel Secondary
One of the recurring themes throughout the Pasadena is that secondary bedrooms are not treated as small leftover spaces.
The upstairs bedrooms are generously sized.
Large windows provide natural light and views.
Storage includes walk-in or substantial reach-in closets depending on the room.
And each bedroom can have access to a full private ensuite bathroom.
For children, extended family or long-term guests, that level of privacy makes a major difference.
270 Degrees of Windows
Perhaps one of the most defining architectural features of this particular Pasadena is the amount of glass.
Richard describes approximately 270 degrees of windows around portions of the home.
The effect is simple:
Almost everywhere you look, there is either light or a view.
That’s particularly important on a waterfront property.
A home near Tampa Bay shouldn’t feel disconnected from Tampa Bay.
The Pasadena uses the architecture to keep the landscape present throughout the day.
Coastal Engineering Should Protect the Lifestyle, Not Replace It
There is a temptation when designing for flood zones and hurricanes to allow engineering requirements to dominate the entire project.
The home becomes elevated.
Systems become protected.
Materials become stronger.
And somewhere along the way, the property can lose the very qualities that made the owner want to live near the water in the first place.
KH BUILD approaches the problem differently.
Safety and resilience are requirements.
But they are not the final objective.
The objective is still the lifestyle.
Views.
Natural light.
Outdoor living.
Pool time.
Entertaining.
Privacy.
Waterfront access.
The engineering exists to make those things possible in a challenging coastal environment.
The Pasadena Is a Starting Point
Perhaps the best way to understand the Pasadena is not as one finished house.
It is a platform.
Two Pasadena homes can sit side by side and look completely different.
Exterior architecture can change.
Interior finishes can change.
Rooms can be adapted.
Technology packages can grow.
Outdoor kitchens can be added.
Closets can be customized.
Materials, lighting and colors can reflect the homeowner rather than the model.
That is what makes a custom home custom.
Build for Where You Live
Florida waterfront property comes with advantages and responsibilities.
Flood elevations, wind loads, impact protection and coastal materials cannot be ignored.
But neither should the reason you bought the property.
The Pasadena brings those two sides together.
It is engineered around the realities of coastal Florida while still delivering the openness, views, entertaining spaces and resort-style living people expect from a luxury waterfront home.
That’s the essence of the Pasadena.
Built for the flood zone. Designed for the waterfront.
KH BUILD
Custom homes for coastal Florida.
