The concept for Bora Bora emerged from the convergence of ambition and inspiration. The client – a savvy, luxury spec developer- set an audacious goal: to command a waterfront price for a landlocked property. We posited- if we can’t bring the property to the water, let’s bring the water to the property. Meanwhile, swirling in my mind while I was brainstorming the design approach was my company’s slogan, “Designing Your Dreams,” as well as the South Florida adage, “We live where you vacation.” With this in mind, I asked my girlfriend of her dream honeymoon vacation destination. She responded, “Bora Bora.” -And I said, “Yes, that’s it!”
While she looked on in bewilderment, I started to sketch the concept. My idea was to have wooden pavilions that appear to hover, surrounded by aqua water, inspired by the iconic Bora Bora resort bungalows. Thinking of how this could translate in a home, while blending interior and exterior living, I recalled Will Smith’s former Greenwich Village home, which was around the corner from where I used to live and work in NYC and that had a stream of water running through the living room. I feverishly drew the concept with floating wooden pavilions and water running through the home, which I located under a floating stone-clad stair and with landings that act as stepping stones over the water. Then I digitally modeled my idea. As one of the last projects I worked on as the Project Architect at Oppenheim Architecture + Design before departing and turning my part-time practice of Pravda Architecture/Design, PLLC into a full time business, I presented my concept to the clients, while my colleagues presented an alternative concept for consideration. The clients directed us to proceed with Bora Bora.
I developed the design, created the construction documents, and presented the project to the Town of Golden Beach Building Regulation Advisory Board for approval. The project was more successful than the client imagined, with the property and plans selling pre-construction for a higher price than the client had hoped to sell the property after construction. Although the project was constructed after my departure from the firm, to fully dedicate myself to my business, I remained connected to its realization. Exemplifying our close collaboration, the client invited me back to experience the built work, to document the project through professional photography, and to celebrate the project’s success.
Residential
