Tres Puentes

Project Name: Tres Puentes
Architect: Colin Brown
Location: Miami, Fl
Project Budget: $3 million

Recorded as one of the first residences constructed in Coral Gables in 1925, this historic estate was placed on an elevated ridge of oolitic limestone overlooking a transverse everglade. Like many projects in the early 20th century, the landscape design was celebrated through clearing the old growth timber and the placement of an asphalt driveway for the modern automobile. The notable architectural design features a grand two-story great room, flanked by two wings oriented along a north-south axis. Almost a century after the original construction of the residence, CBLA was commissioned to create a cohesive site plan that unites historic architecture with the context of the property and surrounding area. The design strategy involved raising the elevation of the lawn on either side of the great room to create a platform for indoor outdoor connection, while accentuating sunrise and sunset views. A series of courtyards were designed at the entrance to the house, along with separate motor courts for the client and guests. Subtle changes in elevation provide the opportunity for a water wall, presenting visitors with the sound of trickling water upon entrance to the garden, and to nullify the noise of cars passing on the boulevard. The water wall and lower catch basin pay homage to the remnant freshwater ecology of the transverse everglade, creating an artful juxtaposition between naturalized plantings in the outer courtyard, and formal planting design in the central courtyards. In a historic sense, the landscape design serves its anthropologic purpose: to create a transitional space that instills order and a sense of control as one transcends the wilds of the rural road and enters the safety of the country estate.