- Year: 2008
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Photographs:Jeff Heatley, Eric Piasecki
Text description provided by the architects. Architecture and nature have been fully integrated in this light-saturated, oceanfront compound that includes a guest house, a two car garage, a free-form chlorine free pool and a two story house clad in wood and cement panel rain screen with anodized aluminum windows.
Perched on top of an oceanfront dune, the original house had deteriorated over the years. The house was gutted, elevated and expanded as permitted by local codes. The original structure was reinforced with steel framing; the plans, elevations, systems, interior and exterior finishes are all new. The ‘new house’ floats elegantly above the dunes, maximizing ocean views.
Dark wood interiors and small windows were replaced with full height glass and light sea foam colored materials. Guest quarters at the entry level were designed to include ensuite bathrooms and direct access to a private oceanfront weatherproof deck nestled into the protection of the sand dunes. A sauna suite is accessible to guests and homeowners from the protection of the breezeway. A simple second floor plan allows the kitchen, living room and dining room to be used as one large space.
Operable doors on both sides maximize natural cross ventilation. The owner’s accommodations are on the upper level removed from guests. Both the remodeled house and guesthouse are equipped with geothermal heating and cooling and photovoltaic electric panels. The natural dunescape that wraps the house was restored with beach grass, bayberry and other native plants.
