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Max Wilson Strang (born November 18, 1970) is an American architect based in Sarasota, Florida. Strang is the founding principal of [STRANG Design ] (founded in 1998), a Florida-based architecture firm with offices in Miami, Sarasota, and Winterhaven. Strang's firm is known for its focus on Regional Modernism (primarily in Florida) and designing with the consideration of the future impact climate change will have on residential and urban development in the coming decades. Strang's architecture is designed to be integrated within South Florida’s subtropical climate and is known for fusing build materials like wood, concrete, glass, and metal elements.

Personal life, career and influences
Strang's grandparents, Charles Walton Adams Jr. and Patricia "Emmie" Adams, left Detroit in 1911. They moved to Lake Alfred, Florida, to grow and package citrus fruits (specifically Oranges) — building one of the first and largest concentrate plants in Florida and several other citrus-related businesses. The Adams had two children, Mary Pat Adams and Charles Walton (Beau) Adams, III (Confirm which sibling is the parent)

Strang is a Florida native who grew up in Winter Haven, Florida, where his parents commissioned a home by Gene Leedy, a recognized member of the Sarasota School of Architecture (SSOA). Strang's opportunity to grow up in a Gene Leedy-designed home and his developed friendship with Leedy's son (Ingram Leedy) exposed him to the personal residence (The Gene Leedy House) of the SSOA architect. Leedy's home was a modestly scaled embodiment of Florida Regional Modernism principles, inspiring Strang to become an architect early in his life. In interviews, Strang said, "My childhood was a collection of experiences in beautiful courtyards, in delightful breezeways, upon daring spans of prestressed concrete beams and in intimate rooms of exposed concrete block and airy rooms with walls of glass."

Strang's personal (and later professional ) relationship with Gene Leedy introduced him to the architecture of Paul Rudolph and other SSOA leaders — further influencing Strang's dedication and focus on Regional Modernism, perpetuated through is firm. Strang is a graduate of the University of Florida and Columbia University. Before establishing his firm, he worked in the architecture offices of Gene Leedy, SHoP Architects, and Zaha Hadid Architects. Byron Hawes summarizes Strang's blending of influences, "From SHoP, a unique perspective on modularity in architectural design. From Hadid, an intuitive geospatial fluidity. But lessons of Sarasota Modern, and Leedy himself, resonate most. Sarasota Modern is oft defined by its warm-weather mid-century characteristics, and its ongoing use of louvres or sunshades, floating staircases, and repeating jalousie windows. However, the central tenets, and true importance, of the movement is in its steadfast adherence to incorporating the topography and characteristics of a site into the larger design of a building; creating a vital connection between architecture and environment."

Strang's firm has designed homes throughout South Florida's west coast, east coast, Florida Keys, and Telluride, Colorado. Strang's firm provides a turnkey service by offering architecture, interior design, and landscape services to integrate all design aspects. Strang primarily designs bespoke residential projects but has designed residential communities and commercial facilities. In 2006, Strang's personal home (Rock House) was featured in the Michael Mann film "Miami Vice".

Since the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Strang has proposed that ''“Moving forward, there will definitely be a trend and acceptance towards more working from home. A thoughtfully designed home can foster increased productivity, balance, health, and pleasure.”'' With this projection for the future of residential architecture, Strang has adopted a hybrid office model for his firm that allows him and his firm to collaborate remotely and in person to provide the office with a flexible working model that is family positive.

Approach to sustainability
Strang's adoption and adaptation to Regional Modernism is what him and his firm calls Environmental Modernism — focusing on the core tenets of the SSOA architects to connect the architecture and environment. Strang prioritizes the use of local materials to South Florida, like Florida Keystone, salvaged Oolitic Limestone, as well as non-local and less traditional sustainable materials like Resysta, a hybrid material made from rice husk, mineral oils, and salt. Strang has lectured about South Florida's environmental concerns and the need for sustainable architectural materials and solutions. Strang has stated that "sustainability should be a prerequisite for luxury"  and postures that designers must influence the people [their clients] that splurging on net-zero integrations (both natural and mechanical) is paramount to mitigating and adapting to the ongoing climate crisis. Strang believes we are on that path and that within the decade(s) "all new homeowners will take pride in their home’s performance."

In 2010, Strang completed the Lakehouse Residence, stated to be the first LEED-Certified home of Winterhaven, Florida, for his parents, Carl and Sheryll Strang. The home fosters 17 impactful LEED integrations including, but not limited to, geothermal air conditioning, native landscaping, no landscape irrigation, permeable hardscaping, fly ash cement, solar hot water panels, and 5k photovoltaic systems.

In 2007, Strang completed the Schokman Education Center on the grounds of The Kampong, a botanical garden that is part of the not-for-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden. Strang designed their multi-purpose pavilion as an open-air meeting space for visiting scientists, lectures, and workshops. Ceiling fans and shady overhangs exclusively provide cooling, and the build is strategically placed and oriented to capitalize on the trade winds. The rooftop terrace doubles as a rainwater collection system channeled through the support columns and collected in 10,000-gallon underground cisterns allowing for the build to be self-sufficient and not require extraction from their local municipal water supply. The new program director, David Lee, embraced this ecologically driven design, with the plans to schedule the corporate events during the cooler winter months and the understanding that the visiting scientist would not be offended by the non-mechanically cooled space. "You’re dealing with biologists,” Lee says. “These are people who don’t like air-conditioning.”

.... Net Zero House...

.... Agrihood proposal...