SEYCHELLES SOJOURN: Luxury Comes to Life in Africa's I ·c Island Chain CAPE COMPOUND: A Boston Architect Realizes One Family's Drea Gathering Grounds RESORT REPORT: Glamorous Getaways on Anguilla and Vn-~ Gorda

FOR THE ULTIMATE OCEAN HOME

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ASK ANYARCHITECT how one ocean home varies from the next, and he or she will likely tell you it"s all by degrees-the sun"s orientation, the view, the water, the specific location, geography and topography, and adjacent sites and structures, not to mention the array ofbuilding materials being incorporated into the project.

Pacific Northwest An evolving coastal architecture Seattle and Victoria, B.C., one of the trend: While traditional waterfront few beaches in the region that isn't LOCATION: Seattle, WA homes in Washington State tend to rocks or dark green sand but actually ARCHITECT: Gregory J. Bader be of cedar shakes, shingles, or rustic gorgeous white sand. The adjacent Principal, Bader Architecture lapped planks (cedar being a locally high bank makes access to and from FROM ALL ANGLES: Clockwise from left, the home on St. Barts designed baderarch.com farmed building material), some newer the beach a bit daunting-a climb of by Robert Barnes and Christopher Coy, principals of the eponymous archi­ tecture firm with locations in Manhattan and Bridgehampton, New York, homes are being built in the iconic more than 100 steps-but it does pro­ and Vail, Colorado; the cantilevered bridge that juts out from the entrance Most important consideration in a International Style, often characterized vide for dramatic views. of a Barnes Coy-designed residence in Costa Rica; a home by Barnes Coy I in Quogue, New York, which features an angular design and plenty of coastal architecture project: Protec­ by the use of broad sheets of flat ce­ love designing coastal homes large windows (also shown in previous spread). tion against the elements-harsh sun, ment board siding, steel post and beam because: ... of the unique challenges corrosive salt air, high wind velocities, structure, and the latest rain-screen of providing access to key views, to including horizontal wind-driven rain type of walls that breathe but don't al­ structural challenges, to sun exposure and sand-on a year-after-year basis. low moisture to enter. and weather, to relationship to neigh­ Unexpected or unique architec­ A no-no in coastal architecture: bors, to applying an owner's stylistic tural elements you've used: Copper Unprotected wood beams and beam preferences. finials and weathervanes, lightning ends, especially those that are struc­ rods, reclaimed English chimney pots, tural. Another is not exclusively using reclaimed timbers, gambrel roofs with stainless steel connectors, including The Northeast oval inset windows, widow's watches, nails and screws. turrets, motorized outdoor "blackout" A project that best represents LOCATION: New York blinds, and elevator access to roof ob­ your individual coastal architecture ARCHITECT: Robert Barnes servation decks. style: A Mediterranean-style home and Christopher Coy .A common myth about coastal ar­ (pictured), situated on the shores of Principals, Barnes Coy Architects chitecture you've proven wrong: That Puget Sound, and the Shingle Style bamescoy.com aluminum windows are all-protective home. Each attempts to maximize the against the harsh elements. In truth, views to the water and provide unique Most important consideration in a they often exhibit the same number vantage points from different parts of coastal architecture project: Water­ of issues as wood or vinyl. Aluminum the home at different times of the day. front houses are inherently vulnerable windows have been known to sweat, I like both homes because they are of to extreme weather associated with the fade, leak in high winds, and crack at a size that one's focus is not only on sea, so the primary design objective is corner joints, allowing wind-driven details at hand but also on a procession the use of materials and forms that will water to penetrate the wall structure if of spaces and moods. both protect the house and enhance not properly counter flashed. An idea that still has a client talk­ the ageing process. Your favorite coastal home pro­ ing: The painting out of electrical An unexpected or unique architec­ ject and why: The Shingle Style home switch plates and trim rings around tural element you've used: We have (pictured) overlooking Lake Washing­ "can"-type recessed ceiling fixtures. It used rustic stone wall construction in ton conjures up the casual elegance is something seemingly so simple, yet many of our projects, which is usu- of summers away from the hustle and can be of high visual impact. ally unexpected in modern design. noise of the city. With its cedar shin­ A beach on which you would love This method involves the use of large gles and battered stone foundations, it to own a house: The beach at the stones, windows set deeply into thick seems timeless and perfectly comple­ southern end of Camano Island, lo­ walls, and opaque stone walls interrupt­ ments the lay of the land. cated in the San Juan Islands between ed by large areas of glass transparency.

94 HALL OF FAME: Connecticut's PH Architects designed a vacation home on Palm Island in Cape Haze, Florida (above left; left), in 2012. Above right. a kitchen designed by the firm for a home in Palm Beach, and below, the rear of a PH-designed home in West Palm Beach. Opposite, a grand summer residence on Lake Washington, designed by Seattle-based Bader Architecture, featuring stone, shingles, and slate.

A common myth about coastal archi­ between the built environment of the its sunsets and 35 miles of untouched to become, not what your architectural favorite house, but the regulatory agen­ the proportions of these homes are tecture you've proven wrong: A particu­ house and hardscape, and the natural en­ white beaches, bordered by palm trees. training wants it to become. cies were very challenging. We had to poorly conceived, which makes for larly persistent myth concerning coastal vironment of the land meeting the water. We love designing coastal homes An unexpected or unique archi­ overcome hurdles with the State DEP, an awkward assemblage of forms and architecture is the need for huge terraces An overused element or no-no because: Besides the beauty of the site, tectural element you've used: There FEMA, Charlotte County, and Wildlife looks haphazard. and many balconies facing the water. in coastal architecture: Too many there is generally more willingness are those days when you want to let in Protective Agencies that govern light­ A project that best represents your Because the terraces and balconies have unused balconies and outdoor terraces by the client to be more adventurous the cool ocean breezes and smell the ing and landscaping, which may affect individual coastal architecture style: furniture and handrails, the view from whose furniture and handrails interfere architecturally and to provide the re­ "jasmine air," and we often use cupolas sea turtles and gopher turtles populat­ The beach house at the Palm Island inside the house becomes occluded. Our with the view. sources to use superb materials, includ­ with motorized windows to take full ing the area. Having worked with these Resort best represents what we strive solution .involves lowering the terraces A project that best represents ing large areas of glass. This combina­ advantage of such days. This allows agencies, it makes the outcome all the for in each of our coastal homes. This sufficiently to remove furnishings and your individual coastal architecture tion of ingredients is exceptional to the homeowners to open the doors and more rewarding. house responds to the context of the handrails from the view line of sight, style: A project in the Hamptons on this segment of residential design. windows and draw the air through the An evolving coastal architecture homes in the area with an updated in­ and designing recesses large enough to the ocean where the public spaces and house and out of the cupola. The cupo­ trend: We are seeing more clients ask­ fluence-it's traditional with a contem­ accommodate seating into the fa<;ade in master bedroom are raised up in a su­ las also introduce a wash of light to the ing for homes on a more modest scale porary twist. place of overhanging balconies. perstructure that hovers over the dunes LOCATION: Connecticut upper-story walls and ceilings. with a concern toward efficiency. They . An idea that still has the client talk­ Your favorite coastal house project and lower part of the house, which ARCHITECT: Peter Paulos A common myth about coastal are interested in efficiencies in build­ ing: On a new coastal house in Gulf and why: A house on the island of St. contains guest and recreation rooms. and Philip Hubbard architecture you've proven wrong: We ing systems and controls, air condition­ Breeze, Florida, we designed an operat­ Barts in the French West Indies. The An idea that still has a client talk­ Partners, PH Architects have seen many contemporary coastal ing, lighting controls, and smart home ing glass wall on the seaward side of site is high, with 270-degree views from ing: In a cliffside house in Costa Rica, a ph·archs.com homes that just seem too forced. We've systems, as well as efficiencies in the the house that opened up and retracted east through south to west, and the bridge that extends from the entry of the taken time-honored elements of archi­ use and organization of space. completely like an airplane hangar walls are aligned such that interior and house and cantilevers over the cliff, pro­ Most important consideration in a tectural qualities of proportion, scale, An overused element or no-no in door and hid in the coffered ceilings of exterior spaces are always focused on viding a sitting area suspended 100 feet coastal architecture project: It's all light, texture, and color and designed coastal architecture style: Although the balconies. the view. above the ground and facing the sunset. about the context. You have to respond beautiful homes rooted in historical we do not prescribe to any particular A coastline or beach on which you An evolving coastal architecture A coastline (or beach) on which to all of the elements of the site: the references and built responsibly with style, we have seen designers and would love to own a house: Georgica trend: We think waterfront house design you would love to own a house: The view, the water, the orientation, the modern practices. architects forcing their will onto a Beach in East Hampton, New York, or a is moving away from emphasizing size western coast of Mexico, south of adjacent sites and structures. The trick Your favorite coastal home project, particular site, resulting in a home that small cottage on the coast in York, Maine. and elaborate detailing toward a concern Zihuatanejo, which affords spectacu­ is to let the house become what it wants and why: The Beach House in Palm doesn't respond to the context of the We love designing coastal homes for creating an intimate, subtle dialogue lar, elevated views of the Pacific and to become and what the site wants it Island, Florida, is far and away our site and that really doesn't nt. Often, because: It's a wonderful opportunity

96 97 to be able to design and build homes Whether open to the elements or properly design and develop the most in some of the most beautiful places on enclosed by moving walls and roofs, ex­ coveted pieces of real estate on earth. the coast. The calm beauty that each terior areas are constantly incorporat­ For an architect, there is a real responsi­ house portrays often belies the many ing new technology and materials that bility to develop a coastal property in a regulatory hurdles, the complexities, enhance the owners' lifestyle. reverent fashion befitting the opportu­ and the effort necessary to complete A project that best represents your nity at hand. the project. This makes the fmal home individual coastal architecture style: An unexpected or unique architec­ all the more rewarding. A grand shingle-style home in Mas­ tural element you've used: A detail I sachusetts, which we designed from am pleased with at Villa Punto de Vista the ground up. The site was previously is within the viewless hallways that I LOCATION: Rhode Island undeveloped and offered few, if any, transformed into a sort of "gallery of ARCH ITECT: Judd Brown obstacles to the creative process. With doorways." The effect was obtained by President, JED Judd Brown Designs a clean slate and a willing client, the de­ framing each entrance with a perimeter jbd.com sign reflected many components of the of Italian Bisazza mosaic tile and then ROOM TO SHOW: Above, views ofyilla Pun to de Vista, which architect David Konwiser designed and manages in Costa great coastal homes developed along cove-lighting the detail. The lighting H1ca.lts des1gn resembles a yacht m mot1on, or a wmged bird in flight. Below, the living room ofa waterfront home de­ slg~ed by Rho.de lsland.-based Ju~d Brown ofJBD Designs illustrates the architect's emphasis on the importance of the Most important considerations in a the New England coast in the 1900s. is the only illumination of the hallway suns or1entat1on and v1ews relat1ve to livmg spaces. In the heavily windowed room, water plays a starring role. coastal architecture project: The sun's An idea that still has a client talk­ and not only produces the desired gal­ orientation and views relative to living ing: The design of an exterior enter­ lery effect but allows the unique colors spaces are critical to designing a suc­ tainment level in a previously undevel­ for each doorway to designate each cessful home. Waking up to a beautiful oped basement using retractable walls room, eliminating the need for name sun-filled space, the reflections of the and screening was a feature the client plaques or door numbers. water, and the sound of the ocean are never anticipated. Complemented by An evolving coastal architecture what living on the water is all about. an exterior shower, hot tub, and terrace, trend: The most fundamental trend An unexpected or unique architec­ the previously unused space is now a overall is lowering dependence on C02- tural element you've used: When de­ primary gathering area. emitting utilities such as electricity and signing a railing system for a mid-level A coastline on which you would mitigating building operation costs. In deck area, I used stainless steel rods love to own a house: Laguna Beach, coastal homes, this primarily means cut­ coupled with a mahogany cap to create California. ting down air conditioning using next­ a unique but classic railing system that I love designing coastal homes generation glazing and a more thought­ didn't block the views of the ocean. because: These properties speak to ful use of sun shading, which is typically A common myth about coastal my inner person and the life experi­ the most eco-friendly solution. architecture you've proven wrong: A ences I so enjoy. Meeting the dreams of An overused element or no-no ho4se must be large to be special ... rath­ homeowners and their goal of building in coastal architecture: Materials er, it should be a house with unlimited a special place for their family is really that weather badly. I can't believe the flexibility, expanding to meet the need what design is all about. To bring views, number of architects still using vast for large gatherings yet maintaining a the sound of the ocean, and light into amounts of exposed wood that, when special intimacy for the homeowners. a place where memories happen is not maintained with the diligence of a Your favorite coastal home pro­ extremely rewarding. yacht's crew, looks 15 years old after one ject, and why: A home I designed for a year in the sun. family on the Rhode Island coast three Your favorite coastal home project years ago, which started as a simple Central America and why: A project I had the pleasure three-room decoration project before of visiting recently is Playa Vik in Jose turning into a major 6,000-square-foot LOCATION: Costa Rica Ignacio, Uruguay, by local design legend rebuild. The complete reorganiza- ARCHITECT: David Konwiser Carlos Ott. Hats off to the man. His work tion of the 1900s cottage into a luxury Principal, IKON Architecture is refreshingly unique and my approach family home created many structural and Co-Owner, Villa Punto de Vista, to architecture is similarly inspired. challenges from which unique design Manuel Antonio A coastline on which you would solutions emerged. puntodevistacr.com love to own a house and why: Santorini, An evolving coastal architecture Greece. Where else can you seemingly trend: The development of exterior Most important consideration in a soar above the ocean, not to mention spaces, which include exterior kitch­ coastal architecture project: I think the lost city of Atlantis, from the rim of ens, fireplaces, and conversation areas. it's a crime to waste the opportunity to an extinct VOlcano? CONTINUED ON PAGE 118