New residence in Bal Harbour, Florida

 
Since we are a small firm, most all of our commissions come from referrals or prospective clients who see our work and contact us.  This client came to us after seeing a residence we did in Halendale Beach.   He wanted a subtle traditional design so we went to work to create a Mediterranean revival home with clean lines and good proportions.  The goal was to create a structure that was simple and elegant.  

The house is 6500 square feet under roof.  We just obtained architectural review board approval and have commenced with the working drawings. 

More recent sketches

I've been looking at natural forms for inspiration lately.   The geometry in nature is far more complex than we usually see in the structures we create.  Here were some mid rise studies based on shell morphology.

Another study for mid-rise with a gradual taper much like an auger type shell.

Another sketch of the same structure emphasizing the taper.

I was fascinated starfish recently.  The connective components have such a beautiful and rich geometry.

This was a theoretical sketch for a mega-structure based on similar geometry.  The idea being that the structure just barely touches the earth.

Gratify Restaurant Grand Opening on March 6th

March 6th was the grand opening of our most recent restaurant, Gratify Gastropub in West Palm Beach, Florida. http://www.gratifypub.com  Owner Gene Playter was busy greeting those invited to the private opening ceremony while Co-owner/Chef Scott Helm and his kitchen staff were busy turning out delicious  hors d'oeuvres.

Mayor Louis Frankel was on hand to cut the ribbon (pictured on the left in the photo above).  It was an enjoyable event.  Looking around, it reminded me why I do what I do: creating beautiful places for people to enjoy is so satisfying.   Butler Construction was the general contractor.   Brothers Scott, Kevin and Steven Butler did their usual masterful job and executed the project beautifully.  Their attention to detail and craftsmanship makes it a pleasure to work with them. 

The thing I like about restaurants is that unlike someone's home or office,  you can go and enjoy your efforts whenever you want!   I eat here often to see my work (but also the food is superb).

 The centerpiece of the restaurant is a curvilinear bar with its beautiful red dragon granite. The material was Gene Playter's idea.  It offers dynamic impact when you first arrive. The bright bartop is offset by rich wood paneling with stainless steel accents. The track lighting follows and accentuates the curved shape of the bar. The playful chandeliers are good focal points.  The kitchen is open to the restaurant and you can sit at the bar and watch your meal being prepared.

This photograph  shows the banquet seating set against the new windows that open up the restaurant during the day.   It also offers a connection to the outdoor seating on the west side of the restaurant.  The pale green crackle paint (Scott Helm's idea) on the walls gives a nice accent.  Chef/Partner Scott Helm actually did the crackle work himself. We had a great team on this job and I look forward to doing more restaurants.   All the best to Gene and Scott!

Eida Residence

 Eida residence view from the lake side

                                 View from the street



Developer Maxim Eida retained us to replace his 6300 square foot Delray Beach house that was gutted back to the block walls by a major fire.  We followed most of the original floor plan by Architect Glenn Harris but made major changes to the massing and roof line.  We added a new entry feature to give the house more presence from the road.  It is a marked improvement over the original design and few people will even know its the same house when we're finished.  The view below is of the rear of the building.  It features a dramatic volume living room with 1,500 square feet of rear porch to enjoy the small lake.    The house to the east of this is Sunninghill,  a major addition and renovation we did for Micheal Crabb and his wife Ariane Parish of A. Design at Sunninghill.   Michael and Ariane recommended us to Mr. Eida.  The house features a five car garage and a one thousand foot guest cottage.  It is presently for sale so please contact our office and we can put you in touch with Mr. Eida.  Mr. Eida was so pleased with our work that he has retained us to do two more houses for him.  All the block work is complete and the project is awaiting trusses.  I'll post some update pictures once the roof is on. The renderings were done by Christopher Johnson.

530 Oleander nears completion.

Shown below are construction pictures for a 6,500 square foot house in Hallandale Beach, Florida.  This house is across the street from another home we did in the same subdivision.

view from the water

front view features double arches with Corinthian columns

Stair for a private residence

Here is a an addition to a  contemporary residence that is just finishing up.

The minimalist courtyard's feature is this aluminum stair.  Beyond are the wood entrance doors with metal panels.  The deck above is for a jacuzzi and summer kitchen that overlooks the Lake Worth golf course and the intracoastal.

What do architects do?

Architects create designs for buildings that synthesize functional requirements with building systems to create beauty in their environment.  


 Functional requirements can be described as

• The size of the spaces needed.
• The use of the spaces and what will be needed within them to accomplish the intended use.
• The relationship, hierarchy and sequence of the spaces.

 
Building systems are

• Structural components and cladding or the parts of the building that hold it up and contain the spaces.  They are the components that comprise and support the floors, walls and  roof.
• The mechanical systems are the heating ventilating and air conditioning systems as well as any equipment needed for the function of the building.
• Electrical systems deliver and manage power for illumination and equipment. 
• Plumbing components distribute fresh water and remove waste water from the building.  

 
Beauty is accomplished when 

• The architect creates spaces whose size and relationship are a pleasure to experience.  

• The spaces are thoughtfully articulated both internally and externally.   The way we define a space is in many respects as important as the space itself.  

• The exterior of a building or its image needs to inspire or move us.  The image or impression is one of the most important ways a structure is judged though it is not indicative of whether it is a successful building.