A telescopic structure of glass and ceramic

Stretching out along the Fort Lauderdale peninsula like a giant telescope scanning the horizon, this large villa does not go unnoticed.

Its cantilevered design, almost a defiance of the laws of statics, is the result of a collaboration between DKOR Interiors and architect Max Strang, both leading names in southern Florida’s residential architecture scene.

The central idea behind the project was to “make the most of the spectacular sea view and generous outdoor spaces, creating a fluid connection between indoors and out”, explains Ivonne Ronderos, who has headed the all-female DKOR Interiors team since 2004.

The site itself – a flat strip of land at the mouth of the New River in the coastal city of Fort Lauderdale – provided the perfect setting for a building devoted entirely to the experience of nature.

A 220-metre-long transparent façade offers constantly changing views of the landscape, which shift with the time of day and weather conditions and make the setting an integral part of the architecture.

Spread over approximately 2,000 square metres on two levels, the villa has an open-air living area on the ground floor, looking onto the pool and framed by two masonry walls that support the large glazed volume above. This is the true heart of the house: a flowing sequence of living spaces running lengthwise from lounge to dining room, kitchen and relaxation areas, including a mini cinema. The sleeping quarters occupy more intimate spaces, yet still maintain views of the sea and a sense of continuity.

“In the interiors, we used constant shifts of scale and depth to create a sense of movement and transformation,” explains Ronderos. “We layered textures of different materials such as wood, brick, stone and concrete and combined them with a natural palette of soft, muted tones reminiscent of water, sand and local vegetation.”

The greatest challenge, however, lay outside and involved reaffirming the home’s connection with the landscape through a precise choice of materials and colours. “To achieve this, we opted for porcelain stoneware to clad the underside of the cantilevered volume and the vertical fins,” Ronderos continues. “This created the same sensation of warmth found inside the house and ensured visual and colour continuity.” Emilceramica’s Millelegni collection in the Scottish Oak shade proved ideal for recreating the timber aesthetic of the interiors, “with the added advantage of delivering the durability and weather resistance essential in a seafront home constantly exposed to humidity and salt air”.

For its experimental use of ceramics, the project received an Honourable Mention in the 2025 Tile Competition Award, which recognises architectural firms that make original and creative use of Italian ceramic tiles worldwide.