Project Name: Villa Brisana

Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Design Team: Paul Raff Studio

Total Floor Area: 4,145 sq ft

Completion: 2024

Photography: Michael Stavaridis

Feature: Nestled in the lush, exclusive enclave of Dorado Beach on Puerto Rico's northern coast, Paul Raff Studio has transformed a conventional tropical residence into an extraordinary architectural sanctuary that redefines Caribbean living for a family of four. This 4,145-square-foot residence on a 404-square-meter property demonstrates how thoughtful renovation can breathe new life into existing structures through innovative design and environmental integration while respecting regional architectural traditions.

The project's most striking design feature lies in its revolutionary trio of terracotta solar screens, ranging from 18 to 32 feet in length and covering 20% of the exterior facade. These sculptural screens, featuring distinctive scalloped cut-outs, function as both protective barriers and artistic elements. By day, they filter harsh tropical sunlight while maintaining privacy; by night, they transform the residence into a glowing lantern, casting intricate patterns across the landscape. The interstitial spaces between the screens and the house allow for lush plantings, enhancing privacy and contributing to the greenery.

Central to the design philosophy is the seamless dissolution of boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The renovation expanded the original 3,380-square-foot home to 4,145 square feet, creating fluid transitions through 11 strategically positioned doors that connect to courtyards, gardens, and outdoor living areas. The soaring 17-foot ceiling in the living room, preserved from the original peaked roof structure, adds dramatic verticality while serving as a projection surface for multimedia experiences. The home's perimeter features intimate gardens, with two private courtyards offering tranquil retreats, while a larger garden flowing from the kitchen and family room encourages social interaction.

Material choices honor Caribbean architectural heritage while embracing contemporary aesthetics. Whitewashed stucco, concrete, and traditional terracotta clay tiles receive modern interpretations, creating a harmonious dialogue between past and present. Perhaps most ingeniously, the renovation transforms the pool into an extended lap pool, stretching 17 feet in both directions to create a water feature accessible from multiple vantage points, reinforcing the project's commitment to creating meaningful connections with the tropical landscape. Villa Brisana represents the power of architecture to maximize spatial efficiency through thoughtful design intervention, proving that exceptional design stems from creative integration of light, natural environment, and family living patterns.

Design Team - Paul Raff Studio stands as a distinguished architectural practice that has established an exceptional reputation in innovative contemporary design. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Toronto, under the visionary leadership of Principal and Creative Director Paul Raff, supported by Senior Associate Alex Morassut and a diverse team of accomplished architects and designers including Nathan Dykstra, Elizabeth Czartoryski, Taylor Charbonneau, and Lynne Eichenberg.

Paul Raff and Alex Morassut bring exceptional architectural experience and deep understanding of contemporary building traditions to the practice. Paul Raff graduated with degrees in Architecture and Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and worked in architectural firms in New York, Barcelona and Hong Kong, with involvement in world-class projects such as the Chinese Vice-President's House in Shanghai and the Barcelona waterfront development. Alex Morassut holds a Bachelor's of Architectural Science from Ryerson University and a Master's of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, having worked in Canada, the United States, Italy and Ireland on projects ranging from large mixed-use developments to award-winning mid-sized residential projects.

The firm's design philosophy emphasizes seamless integration of artistic vision with environmental consciousness, creating spaces where "art becomes life." Their collaborative environment fosters creative solutions of the highest caliber, addressing diverse scales from intimate custom residences to large-scale master planning initiatives. Their architectural language is characterized by meticulous material selection, sophisticated volumetric composition, and seamless integration with natural environments.

Through thoughtful synthesis of local material usage, understanding of traditional spatial logic, and contemporary architectural language, Paul Raff Studio has established itself as a significant contributor to international architectural discourse, creating architectural works that are both rooted in place and embrace global design vision. The practice has received numerous accolades, including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's Allied Arts Medal (2009), the Canada Council for the Arts' Ronald J. Thom Award (2012), and multiple Ontario Association of Architects awards, with publications in Wallpaper*, Architecture, AZURE, and Dezeen solidifying their global reputation.