Architect Nelson de León merges global influences and historical echoes in an expanding body of work in his native South Florida.
Written by: Jean Nayar
On any given day, Nelson de Leon embarks on a global journey – Steamboat Springs today, Majorca tomorrow, Rome next week – immersing himself in the unique atmospheres of each new setting. Yet, it is in his beloved South Florida where this peripatetic architect truly shines, crafting some of the region’s most stunning private homes and vibrant restaurants, infused with the diverse experiences he gathers from his travels.
When de Leon launched his Coral Gables-based firm, Locus Architecture, almost 20 years ago after earning undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Florida, much of his work focused on corporate projects for companies like American Airlines and Bally Total Fitness. Eventually, though, he honed in on the kinds of projects he likes best-private residences and restaurants – where he and his four-person team craft spaces that resonate with the spirit of their occupants. “Projects like these are the most fun because of the personalities of the clients,” says de Leon, who admits to a predilection for modernist spaces at the start of his career.
Over time, he gradually embraced intonations of various historic styles, sifting them into his work. “I was very much a modernist with little interest in looking back at history, but through my travels, sometimes at the behest of clients, I now appreciate all past historical styles-from the saltbox and Shaker styles of the Northeast to Neoclassical and Spanish Colonial Revival styles originating in Europe-which all evolved for a purpose.”
No matter the form, however, context is always crucial. From a French manor-inspired home in Snapper Creek to a collection of cottages in Maine, he attunes his designs to their environs, maintaining scale and massing that harmonize with neighbors and the surrounding landscape. And while he works on the occasional faraway project, such as a mansion in Austria, a massive estate in the Philippines, or a beachside compound in Ecuador, most of the homes he designs for his clients (who range from high-profile musicians to captains of industry) are situated in Southeast Florida. An emphasis on eco-friendly qualities is also a common thread.
“Whenever possible, I like to use passive sustainable design strategies like creating single-loaded spaces just one room deep that can be opened up on both sides to let in light and breezes or building loggias to control the sun,” explains the architect.
While residential projects, including townhome developments, account for the bulk of his practice, his work on restaurants for some of the area’s most beloved celebrity chefs adds spice to his portfolio. “I collaborated with Adam Tihani on Bouchon Bistro in Coral Gables for Thomas Keller,” says de Leon. Other recent restaurant designs include the 14-seat omakase venue Shingo for Michelin-star-winning sushi chef Shingo Akikuni and the much-lauded Eating House for chef Giorgio Rapicavoli, both in Coral Gables. Another Coral Gables project on the boards includes a new Senora Martinez restaurant for James Beard award-winning local chef Michelle Bernstein.
As South Florida continues to attract new residents and businesses from around the world, de Leon remains at the forefront of architectural innovation, adapting his designs to the emerging preferences and lifestyle trends he observes from his clients and the real estate entities he collaborates with. By infusing these local tastes with the global influences he encounters, de Leon ensures that his designs always resonate with South Florida’s ever-evolving environment, providing a sense of reassurance about the relevance and adaptability of his work.
