Project Details
Project Description
The project is a sleek, super-modern beauty — all concrete, glass, high-end European appliances, and high-tech bells and whistles. The project is about 3,200 square feet and it’s luxurious. The home, which for most days is net-zero, will also boast a minimal environmental footprint, a rarity in the area for new builds. The compact and efficient design of this home manages to fit five Bedrooms and five bathrooms in just 3,200 sq. ft. Nestled on a site of 58x120 and with setbacks imposed by the city, the design sought to take advantage of these dimensions by making the main portion of the home a cube, which would be setback substantially from the busy street. An exposed masonry wall further protects the house by wrapping it on the north and west while creating a private courtyard for swimming and a balcony with views of the golf course across the street. The home includes a dual 600-watt vertical axis wind turbine, a geothermal heating and cooling system, 7,000-gallon rainwater cistern, and a HERS rating of -8. And then there’s the 11.5-kilowatt rooftop solar array composed of frameless photovoltaic panels produced by 1SolTech. This project is among the first building projects, residential or commercial, to utilize these innovative, American-made solar panels. Given its Miami location and rough weather situations, the project's renewable energy systems are storm-resistant: the solar panels are rated for 160 mph winds and the turbines easily collapsible for when things outside get too windy. Additionally, there’s a back-up battery system and the aluminum framed, low-E windows from CGI are built to withstand Category 5-strength hurricane winds. A very unique feature is the rainwater cistern and the home’s reflecting pool are both lined with a nontoxic epoxy called Pond Armor that renders the water potable in the event of emergencies. Other green specs of the project include LED lighting throughout, sustainable wood custom cabinetry from Poggenpohl, WaterSense-qualified Toto faucets and fixtures, recycled glass countertops from Vetrazzo, Sherwin Williams low-VOC paints and finishes, and Icynene spray foam insulation. Outside, there’s Resyta decking and a pool equipped with an EcoSmarte water purification system that eliminates the need for chemicals. Last but not least the projects home's Walk Score of 85 is beyond excellent. South Beach is a short stroll away. The design group was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the City of Miami Beach for the project. The city, once lagging behind in the sustainability department, has embarked on an aggressive greening campaign — there’s even a new motto to reflect this: “Blue Skies, White Sands, Green City” — and design group was honored for playing a crucial role in the efforts.