50x50 – Napa Valley

Periana Architecture | In Collaboration with Anders Carlson, SE | Napa County, California

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At Periana Architecture, the 50x50 Modern Villa represents an ambitious architectural experiment — a modern reimagining of one of the most significant unbuilt concepts in architectural history. Rooted in Mies van der Rohe and Myron Goldsmith’s exploration of structure and proportion, the project transforms their 1950s theoretical 50x50 glass pavilion into a livable, buildable work of architecture for the 21st century.

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Led by Merissa Periana, the design challenges the limits of structure and transparency. The project explores how architectural ideas once considered too idealized or structurally impractical can now be realized through advanced materials, digital modeling, and precise engineering. The result is a home that feels simultaneously weightless and grounded — a contemporary villa that captures the essence of Miesian clarity while responding to today’s context of sustainability, performance, and craft.

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In translating theory into form, Periana Architecture engaged structural consultant Anders Carlson, a USC professor known for his work on cutting-edge projects, including collaborations with leading architects like Rem Koolhaas. Carlson’s expertise helped refine the structural logic behind the floating roof and column grid — enabling the design to maintain its purity and lightness while meeting modern standards of performance and buildability.

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The 50x50 Modern Villa stands as both homage and evolution — not merely revisiting history, but reasserting how timeless architectural ideals can be reinterpreted through innovation. Through this project, Periana Architecture continues its commitment to transforming conceptual rigor into tangible architecture — elegant, disciplined, and deeply human.