For twenty years the owners had enjoyed summers in a non-descript, poorly constructed and porous house in a close-knit Rhode Island beachfront community. The time finally arrived to replace it with a new house that they could enjoy in their retirement and pass on to their children. It had to be efficient and manageable for two, yet absorb a crowd of children and grandchildren. It had to take full advantage of its spectacular setting, and be built to withstand the harsh climate for generations. Perhaps most significantly, it had to be a respectful member of the neighborhood, unique in its own way, but a welcome piece of the fabric of comfortable, but not ostentatious, cottages that lined the street facing out to the ocean.
The site is a long narrow lot with the short side facing the view and southern exposure. The new house was relocated and rotated relative to the old to honor the strong visual alignment of its neighbors.
To reserve the entire waterfront (and street front) width of the house for its public spaces, the entry was brought up along its long side. A gently curved wall greets a visitor entering the house, subtly redirecting to the axis and view of the Living Room, through a covered porch and deck to the ocean beyond. The Living Room is open to the adjacent Dining space, defined by low shelves and columns, which in turn is open to the Kitchen and a Screened Porch. A large pocketing sliding door allows the Screened Porch to become a part of the entire interior space when desired, creating a wonderful flow through various spaces all linked by the views and breezes from the ocean.
The exterior of the house reflects the tradition it is a part of, though does not imitate any one style or period. The gracious flare of the roof brings it all down to a human scale at the streetfront and acknowledges the presence of the ocean.
The house has achieved LEED Silver certification. It is built to high performance standards with extremely close attention paid to the detailing, sealing and insulating of the exterior building envelope. The HVAC system is geo-thermal, with two ERV’s providing mechanical ventilation as needed. Hot water is pre-heated by the geothermal system and boosted with an on-demand hot water heater.
