Pompeii meets Miami

A long, narrow corner lot in El Portal, Miami, remained empty for decades. That is, until the husband and wife design team of Ezgi Fitos, award-winning architect from Turkey, and Fabio Santoriello, interior design technologist from Salerno, Italy, decided to design and build a spec home under their long-standing integrated design firm, Designology, LLC.

The architectural design aims to integrate the ancient wisdom rooted in the original architecture of Pompei with cutting edge technology. It draws inspiration from ancient Pompeii and the Megaron, organized around a central interior courtyard and keeping the exterior facade windowless. This arrangement maximizes space and privacy and also ensures plentiful natural light. The entrance opens directly into the courtyard and pool, a central space to which all rooms have access. Each room is equipped with courtyard-facing sliding glass doors, allowing for direct interactions with the rest of the house while preserving the option of privacy.

Built with a subtractive design ethos in mind, the residence is distinctly minimalist. Favoring neutral colors and clean lines, expanses of white walls are complemented by warm wood finishes. There are also walls created with the express purpose of eventually becoming vertical gardens, and the addition of interior courtyard greenery brings the tropics inside. The stunning tropical landscape is a key part of the aesthetic, encouraged to flourish over time. This interplay between the pared down and lush makes the residence eminently appealing.