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Nina and Michael Marco completed a six-year reconstruction of the 1955 Sewell C. Biggs Residence, a Paul Rudolph-designed home in Delray Beach, Florida. The work retained the original steel structure and layout while raising it for coastal flooding standards and adding a contemporary wing.
Nina and Michael Marco have completed a six-year reconstruction of the 1955 Sewell C. Biggs Residence, a Paul Rudolph-designed home in Delray Beach, Florida. Working with architect Jeffrey Silberstein, they retained the original steel structure and two-bedroom layout while raising the house to meet coastal flooding standards and connecting it to a new addition.
The project began after the Marcos bought the 1,600-square-foot home in 2018. In a bedroom closet, they found a red velvet bag containing 1950s photographs and Rudolph’s hand-drawn plans. The materials offered a record of the original design as the owners and Silberstein, of Silberstein Architecture, planned the reconstruction.
The restored residence keeps its elevated glass pavilion, steel columns, exposed beams and expansive openings. Jalousie windows allow air to circulate. The original steel structure was rehabilitated and raised to meet coastal flooding standards. The Marcos also enclosed the previously open area beneath the house with sliding glass panels, following a concept in Rudolph’s drawings; that level now serves as the main living, dining and entertaining space.
A two-story glass breezeway joins the historic residence to a contemporary addition. The addition contains a kitchen, powder room, two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a two-car garage. Outside, tropical landscaping, a terrace and a contoured swimming pool extend the property’s updated coastal setting. The interiors use warm neutrals, natural wood and materials such as Italian oyster-pebble terrazzo, alongside family heirlooms and original photographs.
Preserving Rudolph’s Coastal Design
The work shows how the owners adapted a mid-century modern home to contemporary coastal conditions while retaining key features of its original design. Raising the steel structure addressed flooding standards, while the glass breezeway marks the point where the historic house and new construction meet.
The project also highlights a practical tension in preserving modernist buildings: original materials and forms must be reconciled with present-day safety needs. The source report describes the renovation as a six-year effort and says the Marcos prioritized Rudolph’s creative direction, though it does not provide a budget or a detailed account of the approvals involved.
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Plans Found After the Purchase
The Biggs Residence dates to 1955 and was designed by architect Paul Rudolph. The Marcos purchased the Delray Beach property in 2018. Their discovery of the old photographs and plans gave them a reference point for reconstructing the home, including elements that had not been carried out in the earlier building.
Rudolph’s design uses an elevated rectilinear glass pavilion on steel columns. The renovation retained the two-bedroom, two-bathroom arrangement in the original house and added a separate contemporary wing. The design report says historic preservation requirements shaped the connection between the two parts of the property.
“From day one, our mandate was simple: honor Rudolph’s design no matter how difficult, time-consuming, or costly.”
— Michael Marco
Costs and Approval Details Remain Unreported
The published account does not state the renovation’s total cost, identify specific hurricane-code measures beyond raising the structure for coastal flooding standards, or detail the preservation approvals. It also does not say whether the home is open to visitors or provide a schedule for public access. Those details remain unreported.
The Rebuilt Home Enters Use
The renovation is described as complete, and the house has been adapted for modern coastal living. The source account identifies no further construction milestone or public event. The next developments, if any, could include additional information from the owners or project team about preservation approvals, safety work and the home’s future use.
Key Questions
Where is the Paul Rudolph home?
The Sewell C. Biggs Residence is in Delray Beach, Florida.
When was the home built?
The residence dates to 1955.
Who carried out the renovation?
Owners Nina and Michael Marco worked with Jeffrey Silberstein of Silberstein Architecture. The Marcos purchased the property in 2018, and the renovation took six years.
What parts of the original design were retained?
The project retained the original steel structure, elevated glass pavilion and two-bedroom layout. It also rehabilitated and raised the structure to meet coastal flooding standards.
What was added to the property?
A two-story glass breezeway links the historic house to a contemporary addition with a kitchen, powder room, two en-suite bedrooms and a two-car garage.
Source: rss
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