SITUATED ON A SITE WITH PUBLIC PARKS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, THE INTRACOASTAL WATER WAY TO THE WEST, AND A STATE HIGHWAY TO THE EAST, THIS PROJECT POSED MANY CHALLENGES DUE TO ITS TIGHT CONSTRAINTS AND THE CLIENTS’ DESIRE FOR A PRIVATE AND PROTECTED HAVEN. FLOOD AND HURRICANE RISKS DROVE THE CLIENT TO PURSUE A “HOUSE ON STILTS” CONCEPT, WHERE MOST OF THE HOUSE IS ELEVATED 12’ ABOVE GRADE AND NEARLY 20’ ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

THE CLIENTS WERE LOOKING TO DESIGN THE HOUSE IN A WAY WHERE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES COULD ALL EXIST ON ONE LEVEL TO REDUCE THE NEED OF MOVING UP AND DOWN STAIRWAYS AS THEY AGE. AS PROUD GRANDPARENTS, THEY ALSO HOPED THAT THE HOUSE COULD FLEX INTO A MULTI GENERATION HUB FOR THEIR EVER-GROWING FAMILY.

PRIVACY AND RESILIENCE WERE THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR THIS HOME. THE UNIQUE SITE SITS BETWEEN TWO WELL USED PUBLIC PARKS, A BUSY STATE HIGHWAY AND THE BUSTLING INTRACOASTAL WATER WAY. THE SITE’S BACKYARD ALSO FACES DUE WEST, ADDING ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES FOR MITIGATING THE INTENSE AFTERNOON SUN WITHOUT COMPLETELY BLOCKING VIEWS OF THE WATER AND THE NATURE PRESERVE BEYOND. FOR BOTH PRIVACY AND SUN MITIGATION, A SERIES OF SCREENS WERE DESIGNED TO WRAP AROUND THE OUTER SHELL OF THE HOUSE ALONG THE EAST, SOUTH AND NORTH FACADES. THE WEST IS LEFT OPEN TO VIEWS AND EMPLOYS DEEP OVERHANGS TO CAST LONG SHADOWS ON THE MAIN BALCONY AND POOL AREA. THROUGH STRATEGIC LANDSCAPING, MATERIAL SELECTIONS AND DEEP OVERHANGS, THE HOUSE REMAINS LIGHT AND AIRY WHILE ALSO WELL SHADED FROM THE HEAT OF THE AFTERNOON SUN.