Excerpt: BAH House, designed by OSPA Arquitetura & Urbanismo, reinterprets Bahamian and Caribbean vernacular architecture through a modern lens. Respecting the historic context, the design blends traditional forms and materials, like oolite stone, with contemporary architecture. The residence creates a dialogue between past and present, offering a thoughtful fusion of heritage and modern tropical living.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Located in a historic preservation area in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, the BAH House was designed with the premise of adapting contemporary architecture to a construction context from 1900, a period marked by Bahamian immigration to the region.
The surrounding buildings on the lot follow the “Caribbean Vernacular” and “Bahamian Style,” characterized by prominent roofs both on the exterior and interior of the dwellings, as well as front porches and facades with banded patterns.
The project’s proposal is to apply this shape grammar through contemporary architecture, using the vernacular as a basis for material selection and volumetrics. The context is treated with respect to its history, incorporating its virtues into the current construction context.
The layout of the spaces in the building is straightforward: social areas on the ground floor and private areas on the upper floor. Large openings extend the living areas to the rear of the property, where a pool allows enjoyment of the tropical climate. To reinforce this segmentation of uses, the base volume is clad in Oolite Stone, a typical regional material. On the private floor, a spacious terrace, taking advantage of the differences in perimeters between the volumes, serves as an outdoor living space.
Facing the project’s lot, Mariah Brown’s historic residence can be seen from the intimate living area on the second floor. A large opening in the front facade is strategically positioned, emphasizing the perimeter of the upper volume and creating a harmonious visual link between the old and the contemporary architecture.
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