Congratulations to our Readers’ Choice third place (tie) winners:
Jeremiah Eck, Eck/MacNeely Architects, Architect
Bay Street Construction, Builder
The house was built on one of the last large, elevated pieces of property on Block Island. Every effort was made to maintain the unique quality of the existing landscape, which once contained an orchard, grazing land, meadows, and stone walls. Except for a portion of buried storage space, the topography was changed very little. A conservation deed restriction limited the size of the house to 2500 sq. ft. of living space, but the homeowners wanted to maximize the space, views, and light. That request was even more difficult because the major views to Block Island Sound were to the north. Turning the long axis of the house east-west maximized the views, and burying a portion of the house in the sloping topography, gained some essential storage space (not considered living space). While the environment can bring harsh winters-the spring, summer, and fall can be delightful; so the major living spaces focused on a large deck with folding doors and windows that literally connected inside to outside.
