Terracotta screens and lush courtyards are central elements of Villa Brisana, a residence in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that has been extensively renovated and expanded by Paul Raff Studio, based in Canada.

Situated on Puerto Rico’s northern coastline within the exclusive Dorado Beach enclave, the house is home to a family of four.

Originally constructed in 2001, the house measured 3,380 square feet (314 square metres).

For the renovation, Toronto’s Paul Raff Studio aimed to increase the living space, strengthen the home’s relationship with its natural surroundings, and enhance its adaptability to the tropical climate.

The renovation was guided by a desire to marry local Caribbean architectural traditions with modern innovation.

“Materials and construction methods reflect the region’s architectural roots,” explained the team.

An additional wing was created to house an expanded primary suite, increasing the home’s size to 4,145 square feet (385 square metres). The floor plan now forms a U-shape, complemented by an attached garage.

The exterior walls are finished in whitewashed stucco paired with terracotta clay tiles. These tiles are arranged to form “solar screens” that stretch between 18 and 32 feet (5.5 to 9.8 metres) in length.

“With scalloped cut-outs, the screens reduce sun glare, provide privacy, and create a dynamic sense of depth,” said the studio.

“At night, when the interior is illuminated, the screens cast intricate shadows, giving the house a lantern-like appearance.”

The home’s layout distinguishes between communal and private zones.

One side accommodates the main gathering spaces—a kitchen and dining area, along with a living room bordered by a solarium and a children’s playroom. The opposite side contains the bedrooms.

The renovation focused on enhancing the circulation and usability of the interior spaces.

By removing walls between the den and kitchen, the design introduced a larger, more open space ideal for entertaining. Exposing the peaked sections of the roof created rooms with greater ceiling heights.

In the living room, a 17-foot-high (five-metre) ceiling provides tall walls that double as projection surfaces for films.

A new clerestory window in the kitchen introduces gentle natural light and “echoes the verticality of the pitched living room ceiling.”

Outside, a swimming pool runs alongside the primary bedroom in the backyard.

Lush gardens are integrated throughout, including several set between the terracotta screens and the home’s exterior walls.