Noel Residence

Achieving the perfect balance of openness and intimacy
This residence was designed to reflect the owner’s desire for a minimalist home in which they could equally live and entertain. The concept of the layout was to create a separation of these functions with architectural elements yet tie the design together with light, form and repetition. 

NOTABLE
Platinum winner, Home of the Year, SRQ Magazine
Certified FPL Build-Smart Gold Level.

The owner’s family spends much of their weekdays with their young children and then on weekends entertaining. The floor plan reflects these considerations and forms a distinct delineation between public and private areas.  The sequence of arrival reinforces the layout of the house.  A pool terrace between the private and public “wings” serves as an entry courtyard to the home. The public wing opens to the outdoor pool terrace and is accommodating to large gatherings.  The private wing is designed to look inward and away from the public areas for the comfort and privacy of the owners. 

Inside, the public wing encompasses the Entertaining Room, Kitchen/pantry and Powder Room. This area entices guests to enjoy interior and exterior rooms as an extension of the social experience. This wing features sixteen-foot ceilings, clerestory windows and sliding glass doors which provide the interior with a sense of space and light.  Unencumbered doorways, glass doors, vistas down long corridors, and wide sidelights grant natural light throughout the course of the day.

The private wing comprises the Family Room and three Bedrooms.  When the entertainment area is in use, the younger members of the family can relax in the Family Room and their Bedrooms without inconvenience. 

The further challenge confronting the Architect was weaving the home into the surrounding environment given that the home is sited on the corner of a busy intersection.  To solution was to intentionally turns the home’s “back” onto the busy street while opening it to the secluded concrete and grassy terraces. In addition, the landscaping and choice of construction materials form a silent barrier effectively blocking out the adjacent traffic noise. 

Through the use of non-traditional building materials the Owner’s request for an energy-efficient home was achieved. Insulating concrete form and fiberglass-framed windows complement the design requirements. The result was certified FPL Build-Smart Gold Level.