BOUGONVILLA RESIDENCE

The number of aging condominiums in the Sunshine State can be overwhelming. Yet, concrete block ranch homes give them a run for the money as far as volume goes.
The low-slung buildings were a staple of South Florida in the 1950s and ’60s. As wonderfully retro as they are, they’re absolutely awful to live in. That’s why the owner of this original 1,916-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 2½-bath property had to make some changes.

A quick perusal of these images would lead you to think there is virtually nothing left of the original structure, but thanks to the team at HLevel Architecture, almost all of the house was saved. Part of that is due to the fact that the owner wasn’t looking to spend a ton of money on the renovation, but also because he wanted the work done in just six months so his family could gather there for an upcoming holiday.

Hlevel took advantage of the necessity for a stairway leading to the new master suite and created a linear cupola that slices through the house. It features clerestory windows to add light into the main living space, even though ceilings weren’t raised in that space.
The master suite added 520 square feet to the home, and the upstairs deck is another 130 square feet. The entry tower/ linear cupola is an additional 200 square feet.