SALT MARSH MODERN
Perched atop a fragile elevated site at the outermost tip of Cape Cod, this contemporary beach house has large window walls facing south across a coastal marsh and towards a delicate barrier beach about a half mile away. While the site feels visually vast, the home’s footprint is highly constrained by the usual limitations of zoning, flood maps, septic setbacks and here, an unusual subsection of an historic district requiring modern design inspired by a noteworthy mid-century residence nearby. The resulting buildable footprint averages only 40’ wide. Views are primarily toward the water, acknowledging the likelihood of future development on the flanking sides.
The house is composed of two volumes clad in unfinished wood siding left to weather, one stacked over the other. The upper volume is shifted forward toward the view, providing a partially sheltered terrace overlooking the water on the lower level, and a more narrowly focused water-facing window wall and private terrace on the upper level. The floor plans are developed for programmatic simplicity to accommodate casual year-round living, with an open living / dining / kitchen zone below along with a garage and utility rooms, and two bedroom suites above. The massing of the house is articulated on the exterior with the use of two prefinished wood plank materials of differing species. Both are designed to weather over time and evoke a sense of natural beauty inspired by the dramatic coastal site.
Location | Cape Cod, MA
Completion | In Progress
Architecture and Visualization | Walker Architects
General Contractors | Bannon Custom Builders
