From Roberto Rovira:"The Deuxième Maison (DM) courtyard redesign transforms one of Florida International University’s earlier buildings and takes advantage of the courtyard’s dramatic height, while being mindful of the constraints of maintenance and existing infrastructure underground. It creates a protected and flexible space that can serve for quiet study, conversation, contemplation, gathering, and occasional presentations. The minimum maintenancedesign solution provides users and passersby a destination unlike any other on campus. Over 3,000 air plants hang from light stainless steel braided shapes overhead and large circular benches, custom-designed for this project, provide a place to sit back, relax and take in the sky above, the blue glass underfoot, and the vines that will eventually cover the surrounding walls."

Hanging vegetation thrives with natural light coming from the top of the atrium.

The base course below the Gravelpave2 and glass is porous and is allowed to drain to the subsoils.

Gravelpave2 filled with blue glass cullet, lines the floor of the student lounge.

The blue glass pops and sparkles below the green of the atrium.

Before photo: Landscape architecture students and Roberto Roviro worked on transforming the space.