Inside Nature at Coconut Grove’s Iconic Rock Pine Home

1 of 13

In design and real estate, some things are just meant to be. Andy Gilon and Astrid Alves were so enamored with Coconut Grove’s Rock House, the name renowned architect Max Strang gave to his private residence in the neighborhood, they were both shocked and delighted when the property became available for sale. Once they toured the home and imagined their lives in it, however, they discovered the structure was not exactly suitable for them and their children.

“We realized we wanted a more modernist version with more room for us and our children,” says Gilon. “The sale didn’t happen, but we were convinced Max was an architect we would love to work with in the future.”

As luck would have it, the opportunity to collaborate with Strang and his team happened sooner than later when a site within walking distance to Rock House became available. As soon as it was theirs, Gilon and Alves approached Strang with a big request. After hearing the couple’s enthusiasm for Rock House’s design, the award-winning architect was on board to give them a version of their own with all the updates they craved. The result? Rock Pine, a modernist dwelling just feet from the abode that inspired it.

“Both buildings have quite a few similarities when it comes to proportion and mass,” says Strang, “but we chose bolder materials for this new version—exposed raw concrete with touches of stone and wood.”

Given the original residence had been Strang’s own labor of love within the profuse surroundings, he knew a thing or two about bringing the leafy scenery indoors. “Having such unrestricted views of the riotous foliage is one of the joys of being inside this house,” he says. “Because it’s a narrow building with so many windows, you feel like you’re in nature when you’re inside it.”

Alves agrees: “What I love most about this home is how the outdoors are woven seamlessly into the interior, especially the garden under the stairs, the hanging foliage, and the abundant greenery on the terraces. Each of these maintains a strong, ever-present connection to nature. And our children feel the same. Our son protested the additions of curtains in his bedroom because he was worried they would block the lush landscaping from his balcony, which he calls his ‘paradise.’”

As work on the property began, Strang relied on key members from his studio. Elizabeth Starr and Blanca Martinez dealt with architectural issues while Alexandra Mangimelli and Isabella Hoyos were on hand for interior design matters.

“There is an all-encompassing energy when you walk onto the property that we were intent on capturing,” says Mangimelli. “As we brought the wholistic vision of the family who would live in the home to life, it was natural that the interiors would feel seamless with their surroundings.”

This interplay begins as soon as the home is entered, as the first space seen just inside the front door holds a lively patch of plant life. “The stairwell is a pivotal moment for the home,” says Mangimelli. “To balance out the hard metal and textural stone, we added the landscaped portion and chose the woven jute pendants to bring a softer feel to the space. The indoor garden also fills the entryway with added warmth.” Beyond having nature reflected in the interiors, the owners wanted an easygoing worldliness, so the design team chose pieces that came together to reflect what Gilon calls a “Tulum-inspired experience.”

There were conversations early on that set the tone for the home’s gestalt. “Because we understood what they wanted right away and they trusted us, it was easy to translate their ideas into a reality,” says Hoyos. The edgy poured-in-place concrete, which is an unusual material for residential construction, illustrates the couple’s level of comfort with certain choices. “I love clients who embrace raw concrete because there is such an honest expression in the material,” notes Strang.

Another stalwart tack Strang took was to reference a piece of a historical Sarasota School residence. “The built-up columns were inspired by Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House,” he explains. “Instead of realizing them in wood as he did, we created them out of metal.”

As with all the Florida architecture he designs, introducing nature in a way that doesn’t disrupt the living conditions in the interiors was top of mind for Strang. “There is a reason we created the deep overhangs; it was to protect the home from the South Florida sunlight,” he explains. “To make up for this, we designed a building that was skinny enough to bring ample light into the interiors. When you get the passive features right, it contributes to the identity of the home.”

Strang’s level of thought and care with elements like these let the homeowners know they had chosen the right pro for the job. “The roof overhangs were paramount because they extend out so that we can be comfortable, not only inside but on the nearly 3,600 square feet of outdoor terraces,” says Alves.  “Sometimes you don’t realize whether you are inside or outside bcause the flow is just perfect!”

Story Credits:

Interior Design and Architecture by Max Strang, Alexandra Mangimelli, & Elizabeth Starr, STRANG Design, Miami, FL

Senior Project Architecture by Blanca Martinez, STRANG Design, Miami, FL

Senior Project Interior Design by Isabella Hoyos, STRANG Design, Miami, FL

General Contractor Oxford Universal Design & Build, Miami, FL

Text by Saxon Henry

Photography by Kris Tamburello, Miami, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources: