Fausto Rivas & Partners Architects

Dusted off a sketch from 2022, and continued developing an idea for an open air house in Dominican Republic. It’s Taino meets Mies, I’m trying to combine new and old vernacular elements. The main pillars are the native oolite, a thatch and log roof supported on steel trusses, Millwork to be caoba with no formal walls and the entire perimeter will operable iron bar panels. There will also be a cool tensile mosquitero mass that spills out onto the roof.

A bedroom at 8am - One surface that wraps and tapers toward the sky. This room is just for sleeping, so the sky and sun are the only ones allowed in. I imagine motion activated light at the baseboard and wainscot levels. A wood rail to guide you around the room. Roof, floor, and mechanical systems are independent to minimize sound and vibration. Sleep tight. 😴 20250423

Pine Rockland Park - Collage and Sketch. This idea I continue to revisit but was the first pass done in the studio.

Set behind the car dealership at the intersection of NW 12 Ave and 39 St, under the Metrorail lines, there is a space begging to be transformed into a park. As we pass through it on morning bike rides, we envision activating this space by restoring it to a Pine Rockland strip.

This is part of a bigger idea to convert unused county, city, and state spaces into public areas while returning them to their original landscaped form. We aim to involve the community in planting and maintaining the park, providing them with an opportunity to enjoy and learn about these natural ecosystems that existed before Miami-Dade became our homes.

To enhance the experience , the Metrorail columns would be covered in mirrors, amplifying the number of trees and creating a visually clear space. Riding through the pines on the Metrorail would also offer a magical sight.