An Architect’s Own Tropical Refuge In Miami

February 20, 2015

Brillhart Architecture have designed and built a home for themselves in Miami, Florida, that includes 100 feet of uninterrupted glass.

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The architect’s description

This 1,500 sf house, which draws upon the American glass pavilion typology, Dog Trot, and principles of Florida Modernism, provides a tropical refuge in Downtown Miami.

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Elevated 5’ off the ground, the house includes 100 feet of uninterrupted glass – 50 feet spanning the length of the front and rear facades, with four sets of sliding glass doors that allow the house to be entirely open when desired.

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The house includes 800 sf of outdoor living space, with front and back porches and shuttered doors along the front for added privacy and protection against the elements.

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These details, and the position of the house, which is at the center of a 330-foot long lot, allow the house to meld seamlessly with the site’s dense and lush native landscaping.

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As owners, architects and general contractors, we physically built most of the house ourselves.

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Tectonics, materiality and the logic of construction became of primary interest. In a part of the country where concrete is the primary construction material, we opted for a more sustainable steel and glass superstructure, explored a combination of wood finishes, and made continued investigations into construction assemblies and innovations.

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Architect: Brillhart Architecture
Photography by Stefani Fachini, Bruce Buck, Jake Brillhart