Koi ponds are a beautiful addition to virtually any garden, so won’t bringing them indoors provide many of the same relaxation-inducing benefits? Maybe, provided you don’t have curious pets or kids to go dipping their little paws into the water in the hopes of hooking a fish. But for these homeowners in Miami, clearly the payoff is worth it, since they commissioned a local architecture firm to make their indoor koi pond a primary feature of their remodeled modern home.
This renovation project presented a bit of a challenge. Restricted on both sides, contiguous townhouses present a fascinating set of architectural issues, not least of which is natural lighting. In this renovation, a series of floating platforms helps solve this perennial problem, making the result feel so much fresher and more open than what they began with.

Redesigned by  RichardHO Architects (images by Vineyard Production), the structure itself was deemed sound but the spatial configurations were simply not conducive to modern living. Their solution involved opening up living, dining and kitchen areas to form continuous volumes, making the entire place feel more spacious but also letting light in from the front, back and above via skylights and air wells.

Perhaps the most stunning feature is the central pool which serves to anchor the core of the living area and sits at the bottom of a multi-story atrium, providing a conceptual and actual nexus of activity, air and light. A shot of the exterior gives us an idea of the kind of vibe the architects were going for – modern, but anchored in the context of the building’s historic charm.

Meanwhile, peripheral spaces including master bedrooms and bathroom enjoy direct access to windows and decks and a degree of privacy and separation from the otherwise-open approach. It’s an impressive result for this Miami townhouse remodel, but would you put a koi pond in your own home?