L2
L2 House - Miami, FL.
Perched among the Mid Century Modern homes surrounding Enchanted Lake in Miami is this luxury vacation home with incredible water views and spacious outdoor living area. Built in 1956, the single-story home with 12-foot-high ceilings, large glass windows and doors, and ample natural light is in an established enclave of Mid Century homes, many now sought after as family vacation destinations. The home’s new owner desired to create an expansive yet comfortable space where large families and “snow birds” could rent the property for re- laxing vacations on the waterfront. The structure of the home and its initial design intent were intact, yet a previous renovation left the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home with an inefficient layout and wasted space.
Our intent in retrofitting this Mid Century Modern house for modern living is to help our clients navigate the challenges of space planning and maxi- mize the square-footage of the house while honoring the integrity and orig- inal design. The design team sought to improve upon the existing condition of the house with minimal intervention to create a more natural movement throughout, more open and relaxing gathering areas, additional storage space, and a better living arrangement for those renting the house.
Approaching the house along the new driveway and ambient-lit pathway and porch, guests arrive at a door and entryway with presence. An established foyer creates a sense of arrival after opening the front door, and guests pass through the open living and lounge areas, moving toward the back of the house and its large windows with views to the outdoor living area and the lake beyond, establishing a serene sense of place. Tapping into Miami’s renown for art and design, commissioned artwork for the foyer and living room area is a collaboration with local artist Karina Guerrero.
The heart of the renovation is the expansive, open kosher kitchen with new appliances and fixtures and a layout that makes more efficient use of the space. A large island now seats five, while the adjacent family-size table centers the kitchen and dining area as a central gathering place for the entire family. An illuminated ceiling mimics natural light for a better cooking experience, and connects to the outdoor kitchen terrace for ease of pass through and circulation.
The floorplan was assessed and redesigned to create a more natural circulation throughout the house, and a once wasted space at the front of the house was transformed into an additional bedroom, closet and bath- room, increasing the total accommodations to five bedrooms and six bath- rooms to accommodate larger groups.
A conscious design philosophy was applied throughout the house, only renovating areas that were in need of improved circulation and space utilization while leaving many rooms, such as the bathrooms, untouched. A space for childlike wonder and imagination, a room with custom-de- signed built-in bunkbeds and brightly colored furniture and accessories is a welcoming space for children.
A significant improvement of the backyard transformed a sparse yard and pool into an expansive outdoor living space with a stylish lanai, outdoor kitchen, dining area and lounge, and additional bathroom and storage area.
Without compromising the original structure, our minimal design intervention takes a mindful, sustainable approach to renovation. Rather than demo and new construction, which are time consuming, permit-laden and con- tribute significantly to landfills, our completely turnkey renovation process enabled the homeowner to begin renting his property in only five months.
Project: L2 House
Location: Miami, FL
Area: 2381 square-foot partial renovation and outdoor improvement
Architect of Record: Studio Rodrigo Buelvas
Interior Design: Studio Rodrigo Buelvas
Contractor: Solara International
Visualization: Studio Rodrigo Buelvas