The Sea Project, positioned in Extended Beach, NY, USA, is a 5500sqft beach house made by West Chin Architects and it is the very first house in the USA to use the environmentally conscious BBS wood structural panels from Austria. The BBS panels permit for a minimal floor slab thickness and higher spans for openings. The architects took advantage of these bigger expanses by designing the house with big open interior volumes as effectively as massive uninterrupted wall glazings overlooking the panoramic Long Beach views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The social volume of the property is on the second level but the architects produced confident it does not loose its connection to the outdoors by installing a large 26′W bifold garage door that spans the width of the living zone and when open, the wrap around deck extends the living space whilst also delivering an overhang for shade to the main level under.
The 2nd storey deck as properly as the roof overhang is constructed with the BBS structural panels. BBS is a cross-laminated timber sheet in 3, 5, or 7 plys. Created from wood, it offers insulative qualities whilst at the identical time carrying structural loads. It is also fireproof and has excellent sound-insulating qualities.
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The Sea Project is on a corner lot 60′Wx100′D with beach access proper subsequent to it. Aside from utilizing BBS panels, the home also functions reinforced thermal concrete walls as effectively as large sections of glazings. There is also a solar panel on the south-facing roof that collects energy throughout the week when the house is empty. The power is stored and made offered to the homeowners when they are there on the weekends. This organic power supply is a smart and welcome supplement for the family’;s electrical demands. Access to the house is either by means of the lower beach-side level or through the second floor following ascending an outside stairwell on the side of the constructing.
The entry is barely visible from the street but is effortlessly noticed upon ascending the stairs. Situated at the best of the staircase, the entry leads to a hall kept bright with organic lighting that enters via the long, narrow window on the side of the residence.
The foyer is a clad in horizontal wood siding for a natural aesthetic that is balanced by the ocean views beyond.
The foyer backs up to the kitchen and leads to the social zone by first passing the stairwell leading back down to the household room below. This interior stairwell follows the very same line as the staircase on the outside.
The living area functions a fireplace and entertainment strip that creates a lengthy, linear black void its the white wall on ones side, but it also features a dynamic cement wall on the other with a flurry of blue butterflies mounted in a 3D sculptural installation more than the stairwell. Even though these two features may be enough visual excitement in most houses, in The Sea Project they are simply framing that extraordinary panoramic beach-side view – wow.
The view is so extraordinary that no art is needed more than the fireplace and with the garage door open the living space extends outdoors for an intimate connection to the landscape. Subsequent to the fireplace a glass door leads to an extension of the deck that leads to the Master Suite.
Generating a buffer to the Master Suite bedroom is the ensuite, situated behind the fireplace wall.
The ensuite is large and spacious, with every zone very carefully positioned to take advantage of the views. Set back from the social zone it maintains its privacy while at the exact same time offering the sense of comprehensive connection.
The tub in the ensuite is a stunning rectangular composition with angled sides for comfort. The floor standing faucet is over scale to match the tub.
The floating vanity repeats the element of lengthy and linear that is so effectively represented throughout the home, as do the stacked tiles utilised on the wall.
Above the ensuite is the bedroom and right here, too, the view is the dominant function.
Opposite the window wall is the bedroom’;s closets and across from the bed is both a fireplace and a wall mounted Tv.
The bedroom deck is above the ensuite deck, which leads back to the social zone.
Making use of a deep deck to develop privacy for the Master Suite also presents a more panoramic view for these residing within the living room.
The dining location is positioned among the two flights of stairs that lead up to the kitchen. Made to be pushed up against the wall unless entertaining large parties, the table seats 5 on one side.
There is also a dining area within the kitchen, also amongst the two flights of stairs. Just past the bar is the home’;s entry.
On the other side of the kitchen a door leads to a private zone, comprehensive with a modest workplace area.
Next to the kitchen bar is the island and this is where the cooking requires location, however the island also has seating on both sides.
The kitchen is a study in white with pops of enjoyable colours introduced by way of the enamel cooking pots and by that stunning yellow wall art. Layering into the scheme of white is the glass backsplash exposing the colours of the buildings beyond – and then there is the view.
The view from the kitchen is as expansive as the view from living region. The lines of sand, grass, ocean and sky bring in so considerably texture and colour, that the stark white of the interior is alive with colourful reflections.
The blue butterfly composition on the cement wall feels alive with movement, it is as even though the butterflies have flown in for a pay a visit to, and that is a great point given that blue butterflies bring very good luck.
The butterfly wall is flanked on each sides by glazings and this adds to the artistic element of the composition by visually suggesting the cement wall is a big artist canvas. What’;s also actually fascinating about this wall is the way the butterflies continue their visual as one descends the stairs.
It is as although the butterflies are traveling downstairs with you.
Downstairs the scheme of white is replaced with saturated shades of purple and red. This is a area for enjoyable.
Across from the stairwell is a floating wall of dark stained wood slates. This divider creates a boundary for the passageway that leads to a door to the pool terrace and the wall of this passageway continues the fun with its vibrant abstract art.
The divider wall creates a division but does not close off the space, and whilst a door leads to the terrace from the passageway, the loved ones space has a wall of glazings that can be opened wide for the ideal indoor / outdoor lifestyle.
When the window glazings are wide open, the division in between indoor and outside places is blurred, particularly considering that the deck above provides an outside ceiling to terrace beneath.
With such a large outdoor terrace surrounding the pool and the beach beyond, the choice to be outdoors on a sunny day is an easy a single.
There is even a massive outdoor kitchen subsequent to the pool, leaving virtually no explanation to come back inside.
The pool and spa are wrapped in seating.
There is even a fire bowl for those slightly colder days or evenings and the outdoor fuchsia seating appears oh so comfy.
You can even have a private outside shower just before or right after a dip in the pool. And how enjoyable is the exposed plumbing visual with the red handles – and that stacked pebble wall – stunning.
West Chin Architects
Photography by Eric Laignel
