This project involved the design of a secondary residence for a couple on a compact 150 square meter urban lot in a neglected corner of the otherwise prestigious Condado neighborhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The clients, both medical professionals, sought a practical space that would support their work-life balance between San Juan and their primary residence in Humacao, roughly an hour away. The tight lot, combined with special zoning restrictions and a program requiring approximately 4,000 square feet, presented significant spatial and urban integration challenges. Although the program called for four stories, this vertical scale was not uncommon in the area. Given the condition of the block, security and privacy were paramount, yet the design also aimed to embrace the openness of the surrounding tropical environment. The lack of allowable openings on party walls led to a design strategy focused on vertical light and internal transparency.

The solution centered around a skylit stairwell that became the main conduit for natural light and spatial connectivity between floors. Designed with translucent glass landings and cantilevered treads anchored to an exposed concrete party wall, the staircase casts shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day, adding a subtle theatrical quality to the home’s interior. At the entrance, floating steps over a water feature introduce a serene, tropical gesture that connects the house to its coastal context. A split-level configuration between the entry and main floor accommodates the site’s topography while allowing for a dramatic one-and-a-half-story living room that opens directly onto a private rear patio, blending spatial efficiency with openness and comfort.