THE QUARTER MOON HOUSE

LOCATION : 110 1st San Marino Terrace, Miami Beach, FL 33139
SCALE: RESIDENTIAL
STATUS: SCHEMATIC

---

DESIGNED ON A HALF-CIRCLE PLOT ON THE SOUTH END OF SAN MARINO ISLAND, WITH STREETS ON THREE SIDES, THE MAIN CONCERN FOR THIS DESIGN WAS PRIVACY. THIS IS ACHIEVED IN TWO WAYS. FIRSTLY, AT STREET LEVEL, THE HOME IS FORTIFIED WITH A SIX-FOOT OOLITE BLOCK WALL. THIS PROVIDES THE FIRST LEVEL OF PRIVACY AND ALSO SERVES AS A DECORATIVE WALL AS VEGETATION STARTS TO ENVELOP IT. SECONDLY, ON THE SECOND FLOOR, SOUTH-FACING WINDOWS ARE SCREENED WITH WOOD LOUVERS, WHILE THE EAST AND WEST WALLS HAVE VERTICAL FINS PROTRUDING FROM THEIR MULLIONS. THESE FEATURES OBSTRUCT VIEWS WHILE PROVIDING SUN CONTROL INSIDE THE HOME.

THE BASE OF THE BUILDING INCORPORATES OOLITE INTO THE SITE TO FORM THE LIVING AND SOCIAL SPACES. ON THE GROUND FLOOR, THERE ARE THREE MAIN MASSES CONNECTED BY GLASS, WHICH ALSO SERVES AS ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS.

SINCE THE LOT IS WIDE, WE POSITIONED THE BULK OF THE HOUSE ALONG 1ST SAN MARINO TERRACE, CREATING A LONG RESERVED FAÇADE THAT RESEMBLES THE EXTENDED FAÇADE OF SANJŪSANGEN-DŌ TEMPLE. THE CURVED EDGE OF THE SITE WAS RESERVED FOR GARDENS AND A CIRCULAR POOL.

THE CENTRAL CORE OF THE HOME REVEALS THE STEEL FRAMING OF THE SECOND FLOOR AND INCLUDES A SKYLIGHT SECTION.

THE SECOND FLOOR ACCOMMODATES THE MAIN ROOMS ON A CURVILINEAR SLAB DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SHADING FOR THE GROUND FLOOR. THE ROOF ALSO TAKES ON A BIOMORPHIC SHAPE TO CREATE OUTDOOR SPACES ON THE SECOND FLOOR.