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Reviewing the Demolition Plan for the Miami Condo

Bob Vila meets with architect Michael Pierce from DD Allen and Associates on the Balcony of the Biscayne Bay Condo. Pierce addresses the demolition aspect of the condominium rehab. The condo has an amazing view, but was designed for a different lifestyle and occupant 37 years ago. Today it is being gutted to make way for modern standards with ample natural light and views from almost every corner of the home, even the porthole in the shower.

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Demolition in Action: Taking Down a Wall Now Playing

Demolition in Action: Taking Down a Wall

Condo Design Ideas with DD Allen Now Playing

Condo Design Ideas with DD Allen

Reviewing the Demolition Plan for the Miami Condo Now Playing

Reviewing the Demolition Plan for the Miami Condo

Discussing a Controlled Demolition in a High-Rise Now Playing

Discussing a Controlled Demolition in a High-Rise

Clip Transcript For:

Reviewing the Demolition Plan for the Miami Condo

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" What are we looking at here with -- all the cross -- that this is the demolition plan. And we've isolated a couple of areas. We leave -- spoke of so all the cross hatching means existing stuff against. Demos are correct. And obviously the biggest area that jumps out is right at the entry way which is the kitchen area where we're trying to bring this and to a more modern. Cut the lifestyle the kitchen being part of the living experience yeah. The next big area is opening up he's the better room into the living room. I want what you want to do that. It really makes for a circular. Type of circulation flow currently we have a simple. I mean maybe what thirty inches door that enters in from the living room and that's it. So now we're creating a potentially centered opening which connects the bedrooms in the living it's after all this is looked at. As an apartment for a single individual or a couple. Correct but not really as a family apartment so small so when you're here alone here you can pull open the doors and you can experience the room. From the -- not only the life. One of the big problems that we had here was all this enormous amount of closet space. We had a walk we have a walk in closet another closet there another little closet here. So you're gonna have. The processing means demo all of that. Right I mean this is one of those problems that really is a paper problem we vision we came we saw we knew that there was. An issue witness and when we dried up he really. Come up with certain. Relationships and alignments. And we've. In the opening. From. You revolted often remove dull and created this week. Feeling here where you're you're actually drawing the light back into the that the deeper part of the plan. The daylight through the window can now go straight all the way to the back. Correct and here. In the shower. We thought we put this one. Element. Fun call it it's that porthole that allows you to standing in the shower. And looking out onto Biscayne bay mostly have a view from the shower area straight through the apartment and ultimately right up. Yes I think as we open up the bathroom so that it is one bathroom that serves both as a private. Bathroom and as me. Social entertainment a guest does just that if you got a cocktail parties -- people go and you can shut it off from the dressing area. That's right OK it."

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Interior Demolition for the Warehouse Conversion

Bob meets with construction foreman Keith Elmore of Two Trees Development to discuss the demolition work in progress in the project building. The crew has already removed a service elevator, opting to increase the available square footage for living space. The plans also call for the removal of selected support posts. The structure has been certified to hold without the extra support that was required for industrial use. Vila and Elmore then discuss some of the brick demolition work required to make room new or enlarged windows on the third floor. Elmore also explains that additional beamwork will be required to support the additional floor they are building above.

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Barn Demolition

Bob is inside the old barn where demolition is still taking place. The old staircase has been removed and the opening above is being enlarged to accommodate the new staircase that will be built.