A St. Augustine client sought a replacement for his home of 30 years that was destroyed in hurricane Irma. The site is on a slight hill in a mainland subdivision situated a few lots away from a bluff along the Matanzas River tributary, Moultrie Creek.

Site Location Map

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As a collector of art, Cons. DePiazza desired a new home that would feature his collection, become a canvas for new works (murals), and be a sculptural work itself. This was his motivation to utilize shipping containers; the form factor, the raw materiality, the patina of use, the way fluted steel profiles and detail in the corners and edges catch light and imagination.

Image by client titled, “contrast”.

DePiazza (and his daughter) are also active in outdoor sports, mountain biking, kayaking, boating, and motorcycling. This design creates a ground level shop and storage for equipment, much like his previous home.

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Living spaces begin on the second level with a porch, open living/kitchen space, two bedrooms and a bath. The third level is a master bedroom, bathroom, and studio. The second and third levels are joined by a stair in a 40 foot long and 18 foot high double volume space (made by flipping one container on top of another) that acts as a gallery and also provides access to a roof deck.

Second Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan

Roof Deck Plan

Adding to the promontory, portions of the roof, 30 feet above grade are decked to provide views of the nearby river estuary, joining this home visually with the waterfront it is so close to.

The 8 containers that make up the 3 floors of the body of the home are shot-blasted to expose the Corten. However, when approaching the home the most notable element is the entrance, a tilted container painted “Luminous Orange” (RAL2005), with a stair dropping out of the bottom.

View at Entrance

Follow construction here, images from bndr and the DePiazza’s feed…