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A digital architectural wireframe drawing on a dark background depicting a cluster of traditional gabled buildings with columned porches and dormer windows, arranged around a central courtyard defined by low walls.

Heritage Plaza at Deering Estate

Fall 2024

04

HERITAGE PLAZA
AT DEERING ESTATE

A courtyard campus interwoven with nature and history

The Heritage Plaza at Deering Estate revitalizes an underutilized courtyard near the historic Richmond Cottage and Stone House, chosen for its cultural significance and location in Miami’s highest FEMA flood zone. The project features four structures - Mangrove Hall, Tequesta Gallery, Cypress Study, and Sawgrass Offices - arranged around a central courtyard to foster a sense of place and community. The design emphasizes sustainability through the preservation of existing pathways, trees, and roads, while leveraging natural daylight and ventilation to reduce mechanical reliance. By integrating seamlessly with the environment and honoring the estate’s natural and historical heritage, the plaza creates a harmonious balance of functionality, aesthetics, and respect for its surroundings.


In Collaboration with Eva Klovatskiy
Advised by Professor Roberto Behar, AIA

A detailed black and white architectural site plan showing a cluster of building footprints arranged around a courtyard on the left, surrounded by dense stippled vegetation textures and connected by winding paths to a large open landscape zone on the right.

All buildings are raised 2 feet to comply with FEMA flood zone requirements, preserving circulation and existing vegetation while integrating seamlessly with the estate’s topography. Cypress Study exemplifies the character of the plaza, drawing on traditional Florida vernacular architecture with symmetrical massing, naturally ventilated terraces, and gallery spaces that encourage users to engage with the site’s natural beauty. Materials are kept simple and harmonious with the environment, using coral stone foundations to match the Richmond House courtyard, warm timber framing, and sheet metal roofs that complement the natural surroundings without overwhelming them.

A vertical architectural presentation sheet titled "CYPRESS STUDY" featuring four stacked linear drawings including a primary twin-gabled elevation, a side elevation with dormers, a transverse section revealing interior truss structures, and an oblique corner view, all set against a backdrop of stippled tree textures.
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