Project: Banyan Residence on Palm Island
Architect: Choeff Levy Fischman
Interiors: Dunagan Diverio Design Group
Builder: Mackle Construction
Location: Palm Island, Miami Beach, Florida
Photos provided by Choeff Levy Fischman
In true Tropical Modern style, Miami-based Choeff Levy Fischman designed Banyan Residence, a custom single-family residence located on the exclusive Palm Island in Miami Beach with inspiration from the home’s native environment. Respecting the property’s natural elements, including a large tree, Choeff Levy Fischman designed the master bedroom, pool, and outdoor kitchen around the native tree in order to provide the owners with unobstructed waterfront views, as well as privacy.
The architects combined modern design with warm elements including natural stone, glass, wood, and water features to capture the essence of a Tropical Modern oasis. As one reaches the home’s main entrance, they are immediately greeted by a granite driveway and a breathtaking waterfall made of carved limestone that sits near the front door. Inside, honed Portuguese limestone flooring was used throughout the home.
Texturized European smoked oak wood was incorporated in several interior details including large vertical panels that create an element of separation between the kitchen and living room. A two-story bronze fireplace can be found in the main living room that faces that outdoor patio and pool.
Outside, South American Ipe wood can be found in the driveway and on the exterior overhangs. The final product resulted in a 13,676 square-foot, two-story custom home with nine bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a powder room, and a private rooftop terrace.
Combined with vast sliding glass doors that pocket and disappear, the open-concept design helps blur the line between indoor and outdoor creating a seamless transition throughout different areas of the home. Several reflecting ponds can be found throughout the home as well, providing Zen-like spaces for lounging and entertaining.
“With an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, we incorporated reflecting ponds throughout the exterior of the Banyan Residence,” said architect, Ralph Choeff. “When the sliders are open, it creates the illusion that the water elements are inside the home. This really blurred the lines of interior and exterior with this home.”
The wide-open yard boasts an oversized infinity-edge pool that flows into shallow water that transforms into several reflecting ponds found wrapping around an island with lounge seating. The shallow water continues to the rear slider at the interior lounge to make it appear as if the water enters the interior of the residence once the sliders are fully open. The yard also features a large grassy area, more than 100 feet of dock space, an outdoor kitchen and cabana with rooftop access – and of course, the Banyan tree.
