The design of the Stuart Residence by Workshop/APD was a deliberate challenge to the idea of a conservative coastal structure in a hurricane-prone region. Facing the Atlantic Ocean, an entire facade of story-tall glazing suggests no visible means of resistance to high winds. In response to the need for a lateral system, the end wall on the southern extent of the building was imagined as a re-purposed, cantilevered retaining wall, retaining wind instead of soil. This singular wall provides lateral load restraint to the rigid concrete roof diaphragm over the living room which flows directly into the second-floor slab, providing stability to the entirety of the building facade.
Funneling lateral loads to one key structural element allowed an interior free from walls and an exterior envelope that could be detailed for minimal visual obstruction.
The feature stair was designed as a waterfall of stone, using similar cut slabs with matching grain that cascades down the steps. A steel frame cantilevers out from the side walls to support the stair and its glass guardrails. At the stair’s exterior edge, the guardrail exists as a single pane of glass, following the general geometry while stepping with the treads between landings.
The roof of the ocean-facing living room is a structural achievement in its own right. While the majority of the building structure relies on a traditionally reinforced concrete frame, the living room roof is post-tensioned as a thin slab to minimize its visual appearance and maximize its span and cantilever toward the ocean. The post-tensioning of the roof slab uniquely allowed for a cantilever great enough to provide shade to the interior spaces under morning light, while providing enough mass to prevent the potential for uplift during a hurricane. Boldly, the entire roof is supported by two stainless steel cruciform shaped columns set just inside the glazing.
PROJECT TEAM
Architect: Workshop/APD, General Contractor: First Florida Construction
