STRANG Residential Design in Miami: Rethinking the Relationship Between Interior and Exterior Spaces

Architectural Reading of the Overall Composition

This residential project reflects a contemporary approach to rethinking the concept of the family home within a suburban context. The design is based on a composition of two interlocking rectangular volumes, giving the building a clear visual presence and creating a sense of movement rather than formal rigidity.

Distribution of Volumes and Functions

The upper volume houses the shared living spaces and is clad in wooden panels that integrate seamlessly with shading elements composed of wooden slats. This choice is not merely aesthetic; it also contributes to controlling light and reducing heat gain.

Relationship Between Interior and Exterior

The upper volume appears to float above an open outdoor living area, enhancing both visual and functional connectivity between the interior spaces and the surrounding environment. In this way, the design supports a lifestyle that interacts with the subtropical climate and encourages the use of outdoor spaces as a natural extension of the home.

Privacy as a Design Element

The ground floor is dedicated to private residential spaces, with each unit treated as an independent domain that meets daily privacy and comfort requirements. This approach is reflected in the organization of spaces and the way they are separated, without compromising the overall connectivity of the plan.

Shading and Thermal Comfort Strategies

The design employs a carefully planned distribution of architectural elements to provide effective shading from direct sunlight. This solution enhances the quality of the indoor environment by reducing heat gain and creating a calmer, more stable atmosphere.

Response to Site Conditions

The project takes advantage of the rectangular suburban site by arranging volumes and spaces to achieve optimal land use. At the same time, the design maintains harmony with the natural surroundings, allowing the building to blend seamlessly with the adjacent greenery.

Integration of Form and Function

The home’s design emphasizes a clear balance between formal considerations and functional requirements, with volumes and spaces organized to support daily use without compromising architectural clarity.

Continuity Between Interior and Exterior

The direct connection between indoor and outdoor spaces enhances the living experience, transforming open areas into a natural extension of the home, in harmony with the local climatic conditions.

Materials and Site Harmony

The use of natural materials reinforces the relationship between the building and its surrounding landscape, creating visual harmony with nature. In this way, the project can be seen as a contemporary model reflecting the direction of residential architecture in Miami without exaggerated description.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The design of the STRANG residential project in Miami can be seen as a model illustrating a modern approach to the distribution of volumes and spaces. The project demonstrates the ability to integrate indoor and outdoor areas seamlessly while leveraging the natural environment and local climate to enhance the living experience. Smart shading and the use of natural materials also provide sustainable solutions for controlling light and temperature.

However, the project remains limited in several aspects when viewed from the perspective of practical application and urban expansion. The composition of two interlocking volumes may pose challenges in using the spaces flexibly or modifying them in the future. Likewise, the focus on privacy and site-specific spaces could reduce the potential for optimal use of outdoor areas under varying climatic conditions or for multiple purposes. Furthermore, the subtropical model of the project may not be easily replicated in denser urban environments or in differing climatic conditions, limiting the applicability of this experience as a practical architectural model.

While the project contains elements that can inform thinking about the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, interpreting it as an architectural lesson requires attention to the limits of real-world application, and the need to study the balance between aesthetics, functionality, and adaptability to diverse environments, rather than relying solely on design elements that may have limited impact outside the local context.

Project information

• Architects: [STRANG]
• Photographs:Kristam Burello, Jeanne Cantro
• Lead Architect: Max Strang