Houses are the core of Luca Architecture’s work. Mali Torriero has designed homes for 25 years, first around Pittsburgh and now across Southwest Florida, from small spec houses to large private residences, additions and renovations.
New houses in Naples
The Pine Ave. Residence is a 6,500 square foot new home for a private client in North Naples, now in progress. On Lunar Street in the Bayshore area, a 1,900 square foot spec house has three bedrooms, three baths and a pool. On 4th Street South in Old Naples, Luca Architecture is the designer of a 9,697 square foot spec house. Each started from the same questions: what the owner or buyer needs, what the lot allows, and where the light and views are.
Additions and renovations
Not every project starts from an empty lot. The Home Addition on Caribbean Street added and renovated about 2,000 square feet of an existing Naples house. Additions depend on the existing house: how the new rooms join the old, whether the structure can carry what is proposed, and what the flood rules allow before the whole house has to be raised to current elevations. On Gordon Drive, Luca Architecture provided design and consulting services on a 7,000 square foot private residence with solar panels on the roof.
Designing for Southwest Florida
A house here has to handle flood elevations, hurricane-rated openings, wind loads, salt air and strong sun, and those rules shape the plan from the first sketch. We orient rooms and glazing to the sun, use overhangs and shaded outdoor rooms to control heat, and choose materials that will hold up on the coast. Mali became a certified Passive House Designer in 2016, and that training in orientation, shading, insulation and air-tightness goes into every house, certified or not.
Beyond Florida
The practice’s residential work continues in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Around Pittsburgh, completed houses include the 5,700 square foot Legacy Project in Sewickley and 38 Virginia Lane in Canonsburg, and a 3,400 square foot house on Black Street in Pittsburgh is in progress. In Aiken, South Carolina, the 7 Chimes Guest House is the first part of a master plan that will include a main house and horse barns.
The practice has also worked on houses on Marco Island as a design consultant, and serves owners from Naples north through Bonita Springs and Fort Myers. For island lots, see the Marco Island page.
How the practice works
Mali holds licenses in Florida, Pennsylvania and South Carolina and visits construction sites regularly, working directly with builders. Most houses move from a site visit and program, through concept and design development, to permit and construction drawings, with Mali involved at every stage. See the work index for every project, or read about condominium renovations if your project is in a tower.
Residential projects
Common questions
Do you design custom homes in Naples?
Yes. Current work includes a 6,500 square foot new home on Pine Ave in North Naples and a spec house in the Bayshore area.
Do you design additions and renovations?
Yes. The Home Addition on Caribbean Street in Naples added and renovated about 2,000 square feet of an existing house.
Can you design an energy-efficient house in Florida?
Yes. Mali Torriero has been a certified Passive House Designer since 2016 and applies orientation, shading, insulation and air-tightness principles to every house.
