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.

 

Ocean Aerie	Shore Winds