AIA Fort Lauderdale Merit Award
The Samana Residence blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. Inspired by the mid-century California movement, it embraces family and nature in harmony. This home began with its setting—enveloped by lush vegetation, alive and abundant. In response, we lifted the roofline and introduced clerestories, allowing light to enter deeply while keeping the sense of refuge intact. Floor-to-ceiling glass expands the living outward, inviting the garden to be part of the room. The limiting regulations directed us to maximize every square foot with purpose. Trees were preserved, making nature not a backdrop but an active participant. The outcome is Californian openness translated into the tropics: a residence where family, clarity, and comfort flow seamlessly between indoors and out.