BRILLHART HOUSE IS A CONTEMPORARY STUDY OF FLORIDA CRACKER ARCHITECTURE

Brillhart Architecture digs into Florida's architectural history books for this Miami residence

Florida has a rich architectural history, and Miami-based Brillhart Architecture decided to draw upon the best of Florida’s architecture for the 1500-square-footBrillhart House in downtown Miami.

Seeking to break from the local trend of concrete-only construction, the architects explored the principles of Tropical Modernism and glass pavilion typology before settling upon a steel and glass superstructure similar to Tropical Modernist models of the 1950s and 1960s. One hundred feet of uninterrupted glass frame the home with 50 feet spanning the front and 50 more spanning the back. Sliding glass doors allow the home to be entirely open when desired.

The architects also leaned heavily on the construction documents of homes built in post-war South Florida. Post-war architects in Florida adapted the tropical modern school of thought to a regional interpretation focused heavily on new technology, passive systems and construction methodology. Thanks to their focus on simplicity and sustainability, the original documentation from this school of architects became an essential tool for the project as Brillhart Architecture sought to create a simple and sustainable modern home.

The house’s layout harks back to the traditional Florida Cracker architecture of the 19th century with its Dog Trot hallway that runs straight from front to back. Like these homes, the Brillhart House is also elevated 5 feet above the ground and is defined by its large porch spaces.

Of course, the home also integrated modern technology alongside the historical influences. The architects used thermal glass as well as eco-friendly icynene and rigid insulation on all six sides of the home.

The end result consolidates the essential elements of local historical architecture in a contemporary structure that perfectly blends into the lush vegetation of the landscape.