The stunning Biscayne Bay Residence, South Florida is situated on the shores of Biscayne Bay near Miami. This four-bedroom home is designed to take full advantage of Florida’s outdoor lifestyle. Confronted with a long and narrow site, the design adroitly incorporates a 25m lap pool by running the pool longitudinally with the site. 
The pool becomes the governing feature of the overall design as it plunges deep into the heart of the home. A daringly cantilevered master bedroom floats above the pool below.
Extreme privacy is maintained from the street while extreme openness is provided on the home’s interior and waterfront backyard. The relatively blank street facade offers a stark contrast to the abundance of glazing on the waterside.
The louvre door entranceway
The home is entered through a dramatic two-story louvered entry door that leads to an exterior courtyard. From this courtyard, controlled views are afforded of the pool and Biscayne Bay beyond.
The interior of the home positions itself among the two courtyards. A long glass-lined hallway parallels the pool and runs the length of the home. Drenched in light, the living room is a private reprieve the bustling urbanism of the growing Miami metropolitan area.
Natural light floods this space from practically all sides, including above the floating stairway. The dining room is centered upon the lap pool and features sliding doors aimed towards the Bay. The kitchen and family room occupy the waterfront side of the home. Beyond is a covered terrace, pool patio and sunken outdoor lounge.
The bedrooms for the home are all located on the second floor. From here, lush landscaping offers privacy for each bedroom. Another glass-lined hallway, set directly above the hall below, connects the bedrooms with views of the courtyard and pool below. The master bedroom floats directly above the pool and is well positioned for views of Downtown Miami’s burgeoning skyline.
The master bathroom features a wall of sliding glass panels that instantly transform the bathroom into an airy-yet-private outdoor space. At night, strategic underwater lighting projects a mesmerizing display of watery fluidity upon the crisp white underside of the master bedroom.
Principal building materials include clean white stucco and Florida Keystone. The use of Florida Keystone grounds the architecture to its surroundings and represents a deft decision to embrace local materials. The textured stone complements the relative minimalism found along the rest of the home’e exterior.
Dining room area with table and chairs.
Impact-resistant sliding glass doors are used throughout which offer increased protection from the occasional hurricane. Additionally, the home is raised several feet above the ground to offer protection from storm surges and rising seas. Deep overhangs protect the home from the harsh afternoon sun and frequent downpours.
Coconut Palms and other plant species appropriate for the subtropical setting provide additional ambience for this elegant waterfront home. A newly constructed boat dock offers the promise of adventures beyond.
The home has been extensively published and has received design awards from the Miami Chapter and the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
You can visit the Strang Architecture page here: Biscayne Bay Residence by Strang Architecture or contact them through the Max Strang Architecture link below
Client: Private
Location: South FL
Status: Completed, 2012
Project Manager: Jason Adams
Project Team: Maria Ascoli, Max Strang
Photography: Robin Hill
Max Strang Architecture
Awards
AIA FLORIDA Excellence In Architecture, 2014
AIA MIAMI Merit Award of Excellence, 2014
Publications
“Amazing Houses”, ArchitectureBeast, 2015
“Strang Theory”, Tropic Magazine, 2014
Other Architectural Homes You May Like:
House K Stocksund, Stockholm | Biscayne Bay Residence, South Florida | Castle Rock Beach House | Fall House, Big Sur, California | Mirror House Project, Poland | One Wybelenna, Brisbane, Australia