Broad Beach Residence – MMA
Completed in 2020, the Broad Beach Residence is defined by its tapered form that lifts above the ground and expands towards the horizon line. The house’s facade is modest and unembellished, but the entry portal is adorned with black and white geometric murals by artist Sol Lewitt, which are reflected in the mirrored, highly polished steel front doors.
This family home was designed to maximize beachfront views, the entryway frames the ocean vista and extends its visual boundaries. The house contains two-bedrooms with generous guest quarters, and functions as a frame for the artwork by Lewitt, which is installed throughout. The design’s formal inflection scales the domestic in counterpoint to the horizon.
Lewitt’s murals are made with robust paint by a team, according to the artist’s written instructions. These were chosen as the primary artwork in the house not only because of the way their aesthetics could be incorporated into the design, but because they are uniquely suited to address environmental factors specific to beachfront homes, such as heavy salinity and humidity, which can cause rapid deterioration of artworks. In addition to being created using degradation-resistant materials, the drawings, in a worst-case scenario, can be reapplied.
Past the entry, visitors are met with views out to the horizon while more of Lewitt’s murals grace the walls that skirt the entrance hall. The polished-concrete floors lead to a broad stair, and down to the main level that contains living and dining spaces. This connected and open space includes glass exterior walls that can slide completely open to the sand outside. An exterior berm created to prevent erosion and wave damage gives the house privacy.
