This striking oceanfront vacation home is designed to fulfill the needs of the environment, the house and
the owners simultaneously. The environment can by turns be serene and violent, majestic and intolerable. The
house is constructed with care to withstand the extremes of nature, without isolating it from access and views
of the beach. "One of the great features of the site was its ability to have a private walkway across the primary
dune to the beach and, above the dune line, extraordinary views of the beach, ocean and eastern horizon," says
the architect, Michael Wigley. "That influenced the way the house took shape. The splayed stair unites the house
vertically and at the entrance pinpoints one's view of an endless ocean through the open-riser stair leading to
the second floor."
The 3,100 sq ft. house is divided into two distinct areas. Beach access is from the first floor
level, which also contains bedrooms, baths & laundry. The second floor is very open in plan, with the space divided
into zones rather than traditional rooms. Kitchen, den, sitting area, living and dining room all surround and
overlook the two story entrance/stair hall. Spaces are defined by ceiling levels and finishes, yet open to one
another, in a casual setting that works for both intimate groups and large parties. The owners envisioned the
house as a distinct sculptural element, rising from the canvas of beach. The bold geometries are dynamically
combined with crisp natural materials and are uncluttered by excessive trim.
