Designing the ultimate ocean-to-intracoastal dwelling: One Thousand Ocean

Online, October 7, 2009 (Newswire.com) - BOCA RATON, Fla. - Because we are surrounded, for the most part, by a highly built environment, not many structures actually capture our attention. But, the ones that do are apt to be shapes other than the ubiquitous "boxlike" square and rectangular which dominate our coastal skylines.

For example, architecture "in the round" (also referred to as "organic" architecture) has a long and celebrated history. However, prior to 1960, architects in the U.S. rarely designed curved concrete buildings due to the common use of wooden or steel frames, which are linear in nature, resulting in rectilinear-shaped structures. Countries with lower labor costs were able to create curved formwork much earlier.

New construction methods, as well as computer design technologies, now make it easier to design and model sophisticated, often complex building shapes.

Peter Stromberg, AIA, president of Garcia Stromberg, believes that a curved building form is more in keeping with human movement. The South Florida-based firm designed a curved - or more correctly "nautilus-inspired" shape - for the One Thousand Ocean luxury condominium located on the southernmost point of a private peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, just north of the Boca Raton Inlet.

According to the architect, the architecture is modern through its honest use of materials, which include reinforced concrete, steel, stone, glass and wood.

"The seven-story building was designed to exist solely on the site on which it lives. It couldn't exist the same anywhere else. Its functions are the outward expressions that became the architecture. Its form is a direct result of the forces acting upon it," he explained.

"Environmental forces on the land and in the elements of wind, water and sun gave the building its nautilus form and volume. The form is generated from various center points that create multiple radius arcs. The center point from which each unit's exterior walls originate gives the building an individuality through the resultant segmented façade, while a structural reliance exists upon the whole. That is something not commonly seen in multi-story condominium living in this region," Stromberg noted. "We wanted One Thousand Ocean to feel like a gathering of unique homes clustered together that create a whole."

The environment also dictated the building's central-protected arrival court, multiple radius-layered skin (the materials enclosing the building), briso-soleil locations, and deep exterior living spaces. The majority of residences are "through" units welcoming natural light and providing cross-ventilation and views from the ocean to the lake/Intracoastal Waterway. Furthermore, as a resident or guest arrives, there are views through the building toward the ocean.

"We are fortunate to have a client, LXR Luxury Resorts, that had the vision to allow us to do what we as architects are supposed to do - create. Consequently, we feel that One Thousand Ocean is what the ultimate ocean-to-intracoastal dwelling should be for this location," Stromberg concluded.

One Thousand Ocean features exclusive one- and two-story Beach Villas and one-story Residences and Penthouses are priced are from $3 to over $15 million. Residents can enjoy the amenities and services of the building, as well as elect to have Premier Club membership privileges at the neighboring Boca Raton Resort and Club.

Completion of One Thousand Ocean is expected by the end of 2009. For further information, visit www.onethousandocean.com or call the Sales & Design Center at (561) 869-5000 to schedule a private showing.