The Intracoastal Waterway runs along the east coast of the United States, connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and comprising many kinds of waterways. This home sits on one of those waterways – the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal – in a wooded beach neighborhood and facing the canal and its perennial wetland across the way.

The design agenda called for a sensitive response to climate and site. The house is sited to maximize views to the canal and wetlands, simultaneously providing a variety of protected and shaded exterior spaces. The “L”-shaped form of the house is split by a glazed entry foyer, offering views through the house and site, and along a continuous boardwalk from the streetside through the foyer to the canal and marsh.

Creating a shaded place, saving all the trees on site, capturing yet protecting from sun and breeze, maximizing views, creating habitat for bees, birds, and other flora and fauna – these are some of the project’s site-sensitive strategies employed to decrease energy demand and enhance building-site synergies.

The project focuses on passive sustainable strategies in order to decrease energy demands and its burden on the local utilities, and to enhance building-site synergy. By creating a highly performance building envelope, employing a geothermal system, careful environmental control systems zoning, and employing an energy recovery ventilator, energy costs are minimized. Operable windows and skylights, including in the open, gabled stairway, allow for natural ventilation and take advantage of the stack effect. Reclaimed and recycled materials, LED lighting, and extensive native plantings comprise the sustainably minded aspects of the project.

The home is a home for the beach, not a suburban home transplanted to the beach. Careful separation of circulation patterns – from the beach, from the canal, from the carport, one enters through the “hub” outfitted for outdoor living.  Two outdoor showers, and plenty of space for beach gear and laundry give way to the “sand-free” portions of the home. The heart of the home is where the towels are! Spaces for circulation, gathering, and chance encounters of the extended family and friends who gather and hang about the inside and outsides spaces.  The kitchen bridges the interior and exterior, linking a porch with the living and dining areas. Materials are matter of fact, rough-hewn, utilitarian. A home for the grill, kayaks, laundry, outdoor showers, and beach storage were as important as spaces for sleeping, eating, hanging out.