Perched quietly on a lot between the Gulf of Mexico and Anna Maria Sound, the Surof House creates sensorial links with the water while withstanding the threatening storms that arise in the Gulf. What began as the renovation of a tiny, run-down beach shack turned into building a completely new home designed to resist storms while reflecting the old Florida character of the original shack.  

Combining the wood construction and simple geometries typical of the island’s ramshackle beach houses with storm-safe materials and minimalist details, we made the house a protective container for the family’s history on the site, which stretches back to the 1930s.

The living spaces perch fifteen feet above the ground, protected from storm surge on concrete piers. Inside, exposed roof trusses and whitewashed surfaces lend an air of expansiveness to the home’s humble footprint, and a wide covered porch supported by a thin steel column expands the home’s living space with panoramic views of the Gulf.

For all its newness, the home abounds with nods to its predecessor. In the built-in cabinetry, little pockets display family heirlooms, while salvaged elements — interior doors, colorful beadboard — create a tactile connection to the home’s history.