This Florida house is the opposite of gestalt. It expresses an energetic combination of tropicalist modern architecture with a client's extraordinary contemporary art collection to create a place for living with art. 

The client, a recognized collector, desired a new home that would accommodate his family --includng four children under the age of 10 and multiple pets --and a large-scale contemporary art collection. 

The formal strategy of the house transposes the traditional elegance of a 1920's/1930's zaguan -a covered entry portal through a courtyard -onto a 7,800 SF L-shaped plan occupying a narrow Miami Beach lot. Organized along the short side, the house's main living spaces are balanced between Biscayne Bay and an internal courtyard, with services arranged along the long side of the house. The interior eschews the typically austere museological nature of spaces for art display and maintains a playful atmosphere that fully integrates the collection with family life. The architect worked closely with the client and interior designer to create structural elements for large-scale pieces. Several site-specific works were commissioned by the client, including a sculptural stair by Scottish artist Martin  Creed embedded in the center of the house. It comprises 37 variations of marble and required extensive collaboration between artist and architect. 

Floor-to-ceiling windows protected by overhanging canopies frame views of the downtown Miami skyline. On the second level, the master bedroom and study spaces cantilever over the ground level terrace. 

Inside and out, the house is a joyous expression of living with art.