February 2014, Miami, FL – Natural. Lush. Tropical. Not a property description

traditionally associated with aluminum, but fortunately, Trojan Powder’s techniques are

anything but traditional. When tasked with bringing a new face to industrial aluminum

louvers—for Miami’s most expensive residential property—the results were nothing short

of spectacular.

While envisioning the design for an exciting, large-scale project, Indian Creek House,

architect Rene Gonzalez chose to embrace a design that would reflect the breathtaking

nature surrounding the property. Located on a secluded island between Miami and North

Miami Beach, house is a relative term, of course, as the property sprawls over 30,000

square feet and features rare, expansive views of the scenic Biscayne Bay, a premium

location in South Florida.

Deeply inspired by the location, Indian Creek’s architectural design was imagined with

nature in mind. In an effort to create clean lines that complement the property’s views,

Gonzalez created a blueprint that would dynamically capture the sunlight and blue skies,

while making a bold design statement in the process.

The backbone of this design heavily involved a series of aluminum louvers, for which Carl

Troiano of Trojan Powder was contracted to envision and execute. Inspired to use a more

sustainable option for the exterior design of the house, Carl took an innovative approach

to treating each aluminum louver used in the façade. Tracing the white-washed stone

walls, climbing over the pavilions, floating above walkways and lining the façade, these

louvers comprised a large part of Gonzalez’s vision and needed an innovative finish that

would feel both fresh and at home in this modern aesthetic.

Trojan Powder created an innovative coating and embellishment to be applied to each

louver that would echo the finish of a natural wood grain. This would not only effectively

highlight the property’s lush environment, but would also add a spacious elegance to the

design of the house.

“Collaborating on Indian Creek was an exciting opportunity to apply new ideas to

aluminum,” says Troiano. “Introducing a new finish, while being able to use a recyclable,

sustainable material that’s environmentally friendly was a rewarding process. We loved the

idea of bringing trees into the design without having to cut any down.”

During the day, the louvered entryways and trellises filter sunlight to an artful effect,

providing a sense of privacy while also playfully reflecting natural light against the white

washed walls of the façade.

At night, strategically placed lighting showcases the wood grain-treated louvers to emit the

same golden warmth found in natural wood exteriors, creating an impactful-yet-highly

sustainable solution for architects and home owners looking to incorporate a natural grain

effect in their own properties.

The result is a combination of shapes, textures and light that at once contrast each other

while also work together to create a thoroughly modern home, where the boundaries

between nature’s beauty and man made constructions are artfully blurred.