Nestled
amid the sand dunes on the Gulf of Mexico at Panama City, Florida, the
Hilton residence contains 9,500 square feet of living space. Primary
rooms are suspended on concrete pods at various levels within a
greenhouse structure of coral-tinted reflective glazing. One interior
stairway encircles a glass-enclosed elevator, while another winds around
fully grown native palms. The top lacuna of an exterior two-level
saltwater swimming pool fountains into the lower basin, then enters the
interior by flowing beneath the edge of a glazed wall. Tiered roof wings
sweep upward, forming a series of clerestories that shield the open
floor plan from excessive sun exposure while presenting unobstructed
views of the oceanfront during daytime and allowing stargazing at night.
Remote-controlled fabric panels placed strategically over the glazing
provide additional solar protection.
Interior
spaces flow freely without walls or partitions, while scale and volume
are tempered through the placement of palms and other tropical flora.
Level changes rhythmically establish area separations and maximize
direct ocean views. The varying colors and textures of terraces, walls,
planters, and pools avoid sharp definitions of boundary, integrating the
the interior and exterior of the home into a sense of contained
movement. The gestures of the form join harmoniously with the
surrounding swell of seabird, ocean waves, and sand dunes that embrace
an exceptional building site. Everything set forward for the program by
the clients indicated a desire for fluidity. All the exterior benefits
of the site, such as sea breezes and ocean sunsets, are integrated into
the residence to establish a refuge from the hectic pace of a busy
business life and create a soothing place to relax, read, and write.
|