Who We Are
A Home Should Belong to the Place Where It Stands and the People Who Live Within It.
We believe the most meaningful homes are not simply designed to be admired. They are designed to be lived in, to reflect the people who call them home, and to feel deeply connected to the world around them.
At SUNARC, architecture begins with listening. We take the time to understand the lives, aspirations, and everyday rituals of the people we design for. We study the land, the movement of sunlight, the surrounding landscape, and the views worth capturing. Somewhere between the people and the place, a home begins to take shape.
A home where morning light fills the kitchen. Where living spaces open naturally to the outdoors. Where a quiet afternoon on the porch or an evening overlooking the water becomes part of everyday life.
These are the moments that inspire our architecture.
The People Behind SUNARC
At SUNARC, Wesley and Michael have worked side by side since the studio's early days, bringing different perspectives and complementary strengths to a shared vision of thoughtful residential architecture.
Both born and raised in Florida, they share a deep appreciation for the state's coastal landscapes, natural beauty, and the unique relationship between architecture and the environment. Together, they have helped shape SUNARC into a personal, design-focused studio where creativity, technical understanding, and lasting client relationships are equally valued.
Wesley Davis, AIA, NCARB
Principal ArchitectWesley's architectural background began with large-scale civic and museum projects, where he developed an appreciation for the relationship between design, experience, and the finer details that bring a building together.
Today, he brings that same curiosity and technical understanding to residential architecture, with a particular passion for building science, coastal resilience, and the thoughtful detailing that allows beautiful architecture to stand the test of time.
Wesley is often the first person clients meet at SUNARC, taking the time to understand their vision, introduce them to the studio's approach, and help lay the foundation for a successful project. Throughout the design process, he works closely with Michael, contributing to the architectural direction while guiding the technical decisions that bring each home to life.
For Wesley, some of the most rewarding design opportunities are found where creativity and technical challenges meet, transforming the complexities of a site or coastal environment into something both beautiful and enduring.
Wesley holds a master's degree from the University of Florida.
Michael Riebesell
Design PrincipalMichael has been instrumental in shaping SUNARC's design philosophy and creative direction since the studio's early days.
As Design Principal, Michael leads the day-to-day design process, working closely with clients to transform their ideas, aspirations, and everyday routines into thoughtful, highly personal architecture.
He believes that designing a home begins with understanding the people who will live within it. From the earliest sketches to the careful refinement of spaces, materials, and details, Michael brings creativity, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit to every project.
As the primary point of contact throughout the design journey, he helps clients navigate the many decisions involved in creating a custom home, making the experience feel approachable, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable.
Working side by side with Wesley, Michael brings together the art of design and the practical considerations of bringing a home to life, ensuring that each residence reflects both the individuality of its owners and the character of its surroundings.
Michael holds a master's degree from the University of Miami.
Our Story
Founded in St. Petersburg, Florida, SUNARC is a boutique architecture studio specializing in custom luxury residences and thoughtfully designed coastal homes.
Our practice grew along Florida's Gulf Coast, where the relationship between architecture and nature is impossible to ignore. Here, sunlight, water, coastal breezes, and the changing landscape are more than the backdrop to a home. They help shape its design.
We believe every residence should be as individual as the people who live within it. Rather than working toward a singular architectural style, we approach each project with curiosity, allowing the client's vision, the character of the land, and the surrounding environment to guide the design.
Though the landscapes may change, our belief remains the same: thoughtful architecture should feel connected to its surroundings and create a lasting sense of belonging.
A Personal Approach to Architecture
For many of our clients, building a custom home is the realization of a dream imagined over many years. It is an exciting undertaking, but one filled with decisions, possibilities, and unfamiliar territory.
We believe the experience of creating that home should be just as rewarding as living in it.
Before the first line is drawn, we want to know how you live. Where your family gathers. What a perfect Sunday morning looks like. The spaces you imagine entertaining in, the views you hope to wake up to, and the little details that make a place feel entirely your own.
These conversations are the foundation of our work.
Our role is not to design a home for ourselves, but to help you discover and realize the home that is right for you. We bring years of architectural experience, thoughtful guidance, and genuine enthusiasm to that process, making what can feel overwhelming into something collaborative, comfortable, and even a little fun.
To us, luxury is about more than beautiful materials and carefully considered details. It is also about feeling heard, understood, and confident in the people entrusted with bringing your vision to life.
Shaped by Nature. Designed to Endure.
Designing along Florida's coastline requires an appreciation for both its beauty and its challenges.
The warmth of the sun, the movement of coastal breezes, and the rhythm of indoor and outdoor living inspire our work. At the same time, hurricane exposure, coastal flooding, and the demands of the environment require a thoughtful understanding of how homes are designed and built.
We see these considerations not as limitations, but as opportunities for architecture.
Deep overhangs provide shade and create inviting outdoor spaces. Elevated living areas open to expansive coastal views. Carefully placed windows frame the landscape while bringing natural light into the heart of the home.
Our experience in high-end residential and coastal architecture allows us to weave beauty, comfort, and resilience together from the very beginning.
The result is a home that not only responds to its environment, but feels naturally at home within it.
The Moment It Becomes Home
There is a moment during construction that reminds us why we love what we do.
It happens when the walls are finally in place and our clients walk through the front door of their future home.
Until then, they have experienced the design through drawings, three-dimensional models, and architectural walkthroughs. But now, for the first time, they can truly feel the spaces around them.
The proportions of the rooms. The sunlight coming through the windows. The view stretching beyond the living room, one they will return home to for years to come.
What once existed only in their imagination has begun to become real.
For us, that moment is what architecture is all about.
Not simply designing a beautiful house, but creating the setting for a lifetime of living.
Let's Create Something Beautiful
Every home begins with a story. We would love to hear yours.
Whether you are imagining a waterfront retreat, a home for gathering family and friends, or a residence inspired by a new landscape, we welcome the opportunity to learn about your vision and explore what we might create together.
Wesley reads every message himself.