"It's the perfect beach house", said one judge. "It's all about climbing up and over, with rooftop decks and views, very nautical."
Project of the Year, Builder Magazine - 1992
Located on the south shore of Cape Cod, this summer house was designed for a couple whose permanent home in Ohio was also designed by Centerbrook. Their request was for a house that, while in keeping with the scale of its neighbors, would take in a westward panorama of beach, ocean and sunset, while also rising over the treetops to gain views of a small boat-filled harbor to the east. In fact, the neighborhood review committee had to be satisfied that the design was compatible with circa 1900, shingle-style residences.
The house accommodates more than a dozen relatives, including small children, as well as the clients’ desire for a playful vacation house with the aura of a seaside retreat. It also had to be substantial enough to withstand a 100-year flood, which it has done twice already.
The house was envisioned as a fantastic ship, with berths inside and decks outside. The screened Bow House takes its place at the prow, backed by two pavilions devoted to entertainment and relaxation respectively. Below the raised first floor, an open space spreads out amongst the structural underpinnings; ballasted with mounds of sand and boulders, this belly of the ship is a place of exploration for the children.
The first floor is devoted to living spaces and a master bedroom and is distinguished in its open interior, the focus of which is a magical sitting room and fireplace decorated with seashells. The shallow domed ceiling swirls with celestial bodies, while fantastic fish dive over the mantel, all painted by the architect. The second floor contains guest quarters, and a skylit living room with sweeping views of the ocean and the harbor.
Photography © Timothy Hursley