When approaching Miami mansion Angel Oaks from the roadside, the image of a rustic yet elegant keystone wall provides an introduction at street level. However, rising above the wall in the background is the star sight of a slatted upper volume surrounded by thriving fauna that seems to spill over the home below. Once inside the grounds, the keystone theme continues, with the rugged material being used on both exterior and interior elements of the home – along with timber – to create a seamless connection between inside and out. That balance between the interior and exterior world of the home is a key element throughout Strang Design’s contemporary take on a mid-century Miami mansion, with the lush tropical foliage of the garden taken onto the roof of the residence via a planter that runs around the circumference of the upper level.  

The final design takes elements of classic Miami architecture along with Brazilian influences – a nod to the client’s own heritage – and there are clear signs of the South American country’s late modernist history in the building – not least the striking timber beams sat vertically on the upper volume. Having travelled extensively, the clients sought a home that could act as a showroom for the various vintage furniture and artworks collected on their journeys. The floorplan offers a staggering amount of space to curate for the couple and with open doors to the verdant gardens across the ground floor, there is potential for the gallery to spill outdoors. Visit Strang Design’s Instagram.

Photography © Kris Tamburello