Block Home

An international couple approached us to design a home that stood out from the traditional residences of a private community in Guyana, South America. To connect it with the jungle setting, we explored an arrangement commonly found in tropical locales, a series of bungalows connected with breezeways. To create privacy and aesthetic distinction from surrounding homes, the design morphed into a single volume with a minimalist feel that recalls International Style. Its strong, rectilinear form and limestone construction complement swaying palm trees and their deep-green fronds. The singular form also allowed us to balance openness with privacy. The ground floor opens onto an enclosed backyard, and, instead of placing windows on the exterior facade, throughout are internal green spaces and private courtyards that keep the family connected.