Bali Hai at Coconut Grove
Critically acclaimed residence by Max Strang Architecture
Miami, Florida

Living Space:
6,796 adjusted square feet (631 square meters)

Open air second floor:
3400 square feet (316 square meters)

Ground floor plus air conditioned spaces:
5,598 adjusted square feet (520 square meters)

Land:
39,400 square feet (3660 square meters)

• 5 Bedrooms
• 4.5 Baths
• Separate Office/Guest House or Maids Quarters option

Click Here for Floor Plan and Virtual Tour

Soaring from its natural coral rock base, Bali Hai's open air living pavilion embraces both surrounding forest and blue skies while basking in the sunny breezes of nearby Biscayne Bay. Its cherished acreage has long been associated with the first choice of Coconut Grove's important families including the Alexander Graham Bell who lived across the street, the Smithsonian Institute founders one door up, and the great plant explorer David Fairchild. David Fairchild's home and his highly prized forest of trees collected in Sumatra and Bali, The Kampong (see www.ntbg.org for more details), and that of the green neighbors comprise a buffer of approximately 20 green acres between the Bay and Douglas Road. The Balinese manor house at The Kampong where Bell spent his winters is echoed here in a hyper modern extension to its peaceful beauty in the rock and wood pavilion of Bali Hai.   Bali Hai is supremely faithful to its surroundings while being both modern with 2004 construction and sensitive to local elements of coral rock, native plants, and trees. The circa 1900s home which was previously here has been brought back to life as a swimming pool within its historic foundations. Bali Hai's award winning architecture (www.maxstrangarchitecture.com) has been featured in exotic fashion shoots, many art and architecture publications, and a very famous movie which positioned it as "if money were no object, you'd live in this incredibly cool house."

Bali Hai faces northward to the country lane called "Little Pine" which connects Douglas Road to the 1920s in a gated community called "Ye Little Wood." It is the first home in the homeowners association and membership here also has its privileges in a quiet, almost rural setting behind gates were you can walk the dog, stroll the kids, or guide overflow parking for your occasional grand event. While only 20 minutes to Miami International Airport and downtown Miami, the location prize is being within a quick golf cart ride into the Village of Coconut Grove with its exceptionally fine private schools, casual restaurants, and marinas.

The residence is approached through a gate in the old rock walls along Little Pine arriving into a parking court for the vehicles, golf cart, bicycles, and toys. The inviting main entrance, lily pond in water jars noted, frames a presentation of light and high ceilings above a polished concrete floor. In this main living room, one is impressed -and continues to be impressed throughout the house- by the attention to detail of the massive, floating white wood panels. The architect's sensitive eye ends the paneling on the wall, not into the ceiling, creating walls of floating frames of white wood and huge glass windows and doors reaching out into the private gardens. A wet bar is totally accessible, but hidden from the living room. The rough coral rock which makes up the fireplace is recycled from the deep foundations and footings which anchor this residence. The living room then joins a foyer which invites guest upstairs to the open pavilion or downstairs to the family areas of the house. A very large guest powder room adjoins this space as well. When one arrives to the dining room and kitchen space, one is impressed again by the very high ceiling and volume of natural light spilling in from the gardens. The adjoining kitchen is a center of warm, balanced activity constructed around one of the coolest tables ever- a recycled surface made from the prized Dade County Pine rafters of the ancient house that stood here. Two dishwashers and cook's working sink face toward the beautiful gas stove and stainless surfaces of the vent and back splash. In twin alcoves, the very organized pantry hides a dumb waiter/elevator which serves the other dining room in the pavilion on the second floor. The only way you know you are not in Bali is the SubZero refrigerator and freezer.

Wood sliders, when closed, seal the bedroom suites from the public area of the house. Transiting through these sliders and into the den, one is greeted with a cozy television/workspace that serves as the hub of the 2 bedrooms here, along with access onto the master and directly out to the garden. If I may say so myself, this master suite is the stuff of dreams. Imagine a space where you can float in an antique tub, enjoy a large, twin jet shower, and wake up in a huge bed surrounded by tropical gardens. I sense I am in a Balinese Aman resort as its only guest. You might be able to make out the noise of the birds in the morning, but the home is built with modern, impact glass which reinforces the Zen vibe of the delightful experience of living here.

Either directly upstairs from the master or back to the foyer near the living room, tread lightly on Brazilian hardwoods to discover a whole house outside at the tree level. Here on the second floor, arrive to a massive open air pavilion that has been carefully divided into several zones for optimal privacy and enjoyment. The first area is the kitchen-bar with its food and beverage prep and entertainment area, separated by a frame from a very large open air dining room which looks out into the trees and an exceedingly private sunning terrace. Beyond the dining room is the expansive, open air living room that sits at eye level with the tree canopy of this tropical forest. Between the two is a mini guest suite in an air conditioned space with bath and an open air shower. All of this floats above a Brazilian hardwood floor with is naturally aging to silver beneath a very high, steel ceiling which is unnaturally rusting. The steel itself has been painted with the obligatory several coats of rust protection and then, after inspection and sealing, was finally treated with a mix of pigment and iron particles to make it look like it is rusting with age. Amazing. It’s like living in a luxurious, expansive open area tree house with incredible views....and nobody except the birds can see you! From this height it is also easy to get the concept of the old house which became the swimming pool as you can see its original stairs, fireplace, and foundations surrounding a jacuzzi and pool. Another vestige of the historic life of the house is a guesthouse in the corner of the garden looking very old on the top and very modern on the inside. In its former life, it served as a garage for the Model T. What you can not see are the photovoltaic panels on top of the roof which generate enough power for the house on some winter days to run the electric meter backwards as it sells power back to the FPL grid. Try that with your Prius.

The grounds of this magnificent residence are unexpectedly tropical even for Coconut Grove. With almost 40,000 square feet of land, there are plenty of restful areas for entertainment and relaxation. A natural grotto preserved in the northwest corner of the property has gone from fern reserve and meditation garden to playground during the conversion to Balinese splendor. Specimen trees abound with more than enough interesting plants to keep a jaded botanist busy. The only thing which is missing here is urban "stress." It is forbidden to come within the gates.

To arrange a private showing of this modern architectural treasure,
please call Rex Hamilton at 305 776 8686 or email him at rexhamilton@rexhamilton.com.

Residence plus many custom furniture items from Indonesia and a street worthy golf cart is offered for sale for $3,900,000.

SOLD

2655 LE JEUNE ROAD, SUITE 500, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 33134 USA
telephone: 1 305 441 2828  ~  fax: 1 305 446 7073

Home  ~  Rental Property  ~  Search All Florida Properties  ~  Resources  ~ Publications ~  Information