A study in small house design.
This small-scale development investigates the concept of a small living space that allows privacy and open living while being part of a dense condominium -like site plan.

The design is developed from a project initially designed as part of Calvino's graduate thesis project .

The spatial concept is that the living space is elevated so as to separate each unit from the ground level giving privacy and removing the spaces from the more public zone.  The units are further isolated from each other by staggering the footprints and by orienting each living space to the south with glass walls while shielding views in every other direction that may give a visual link to another unit.

Tropical landscaping is used to further isolate the units from one another and to provide shade and fresh air and oxygen to each environment.

The materials are site-specific designed, textured concrete blocks or precast panels with various steel elements, site precast roof and floor planes.  The infill system is a cypress and glass curtainwall system with ipe or redwood clad loft structure.



The masonry/concrete shell defines a spatial system with its footprint with a sort of tower element at the east containing storage, laundry, vertical circulation, HVAC system, and plumbing while defining an opaque shear wall at the north shielding it from the next unit.  The north wall stops short of the sculpted roof plane allowing views to the Florida blue sky & the dark green oak tree canopies. 

The interior and exterior are not thought of as separate systems but are conceived as being defined by a sculptural composition of elements namely the concrete/masonry structural shell, the wood and glass glazing/fenestration system, and the wood-clad loft plane.

The result is a simple space that evokes a truthful, honest, and humble sense that is defined by natrual light and open, natural ventilation when it's wanted.