Strang Design draws on Brazil for ‘environmental modernism’ house in Miami
Strang Design creates Brazil-inspired Miami house engulfed in greenery
A deft hand when it comes to blending modernist architecture and Florida's tropical climate, Miami architecture studio Strang Design has just completed a Brazil-inspired house that bears all the hallmarks of its author's style of ‘environmental modernism'. Called upon by a couple from Brazil who wanted to commission a new Miami home, Max Strang and his team blended a wealth of Brazilian influences in a house that both feels comfortable in its location but also evokes images of the owners' South American home country through materials, composition, art and furniture.
‘We met [the client] through word-of-mouth. Our firm has been active in Miami for over 20 years and we have completed several other homes in this neighbourhood. It was a wonderful collaboration with the clients and they definitely brought an open mind and a lot of style and sophistication to the project,' Strang recalls. ‘Miami has proven itself as the stylistic and commercial capital of Latin America. When you take that perception and merge it with South Florida’s subtropical climate… It was very easy to incorporate Brazilian influences into the design of this residence.'
Landscape architecture studio La Casona Garden helped create the lush outdoor concept that engulfs the house in tropical greenery, protecting it from prying eyes while creating the feeling of serenity and seclusion when inside. Strang worked with these and the wider surroundings to mould his architectural approach.
‘The home is located in a densely landscaped suburban area just a few miles from the heart of downtown Miami,' says Strang. ‘This neighbourhood is known for generous estate-sized properties and a mature tree canopy. At the onset of this project, we strived to integrate the existing oak trees into the overall design. The house itself is organised into an “H-shape” which allows all spaces to be flooded with natural light and views of the natural surroundings. Additionally, the home adopts a series of planted roofs and the second floor was designed with vertical trellises to encourage climbing vines. These features further blur the boundaries between house and landscape.'
INFORMATION
strang.design
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
- Kris Tamburello - PhotographyPhotographer
-
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition taps into the brand's creative followers
The unconventional features of Nothing Phone (2a)’s new limited edition come from a community-driven project to reshape the style and ethos of the smartphone
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
What is the sound of Stone Island? A new musical project helps you find out
Stone Island Sound is a new, evolving music project from the Italian label, seeing contributions from John Glacier, Yaeji and more across playlists and live performances
By Jack Moss Published
-
Brew were always on my mind: Pet Shop Boys release new tea set
As part of a new line of merchandise marking 40 years of Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe celebrate the humble cuppa
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
A bridge in Buffalo heralds a new era for the city's LaSalle Park
A new Buffalo bridge offers pedestrian access over busy traffic for the local community, courtesy of schlaich bergermann partner
By Amy Serafin Published
-
Tour this Bel Vista house by Albert Frey, restored to its former glory in Palm Springs
An Albert Frey Bel Vista house has been restored and praised for its revival - just in time for the 2025 Palm Springs Modernism Week Preview
By Hadani Ditmars Published
-
First look: step inside 144 Vanderbilt, Tankhouse and SO-IL’s new Brooklyn project
The first finished duplex inside Tankhouse and SO-IL’s 144 Vanderbilt in Fort Greene is a hyper-local design gallery curated by Brooklyn studio General Assembly
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Tour Ray's Seagram Building HQ, an ode to art and modernism in New York City
Real estate venture Ray’s Seagram Building HQ in New York is a homage to corporate modernism
By Diana Budds Published
-
Populus by Studio Gang, the ‘first carbon positive hotel in the US’ takes root in Denver
Populus by Studio Gang opens in Denver, offering a hotel with a distinctive, organic façade and strong sustainability credentials
By Siska Lyssens Published
-
This Californian home offers the unexpected through ‘deconstructed’ desert living
Gardens & Villas, a home in La Quinta, California, brings contemporary luxury to its desert setting through a collaboration between architects Andrew McClure and Christopher McLean
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
First look inside 62 Reade Street, a clock factory turned family home
62 Reade Street, a boutique New York residential project by architects ODA, unveils its first apartment interior, styled courtesy of Hovey Design
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Paul Rudolph at The Met: ‘from Christmas lights to megastructures’
‘Materialized Space: The Architecture of Paul Rudolph’ opens at the Met in New York, exploring the modernist master's work through a feast of an exhibition
By Stephanie Murg Published