Champlain House
Placed on a compact lot, the Champlain House Fire Island home maximizes ocean views while blending seamlessly into its seaside environs. A restrained composition of warm cedar wood cladding and floor-to-ceiling glass windows evoke a harmonious balance between beach and building.
Carefully designed, this rectilinear jewel-box beach house features multiple indoor/outdoor living spaces including open decks, screened porches, and an expansive rooftop deck that aligns with the ocean and bay horizons. Each corner of the house is fitted with breezy enclosed spaces for indoor or outdoor living spaces, softening the line between the natural world and daily life. By breaking down the corners of the house, the architectural massing feels lighter and more dynamic, creating a layout that is both functional and responsive to the client’s lifestyle.
The client envisioned a home that embraced natural light, outdoor connections, and quiet areas for relaxation. To fulfill this vision, the primary living spaces were placed on the second floor to maximize exposure to sunlight and surrounding views. The open living room and kitchen are flanked by indoor/outdoor spaces: a dining nook and screened porch to the east, and a grilling deck and reading nook to the west.
On the ground floor, the home’s entry, along with three bedrooms and bathrooms, are complimented by porches and decks and provide privacy and separation from the shared second floor spaces. These corner elements enhance the home’s spatial quality, increasing airflow, light penetration, and creating moments of retreat and openness throughout the plan.
The carefully designed home incorporates a solid-void massing strategy where each corner of the house hosts an in-between, or inside/outside, program space.
Corner elements enhance the home’s spatial quality, increasing airflow, light penetration, and create moments of retreat throughout the plan.
Credits
Team: Paul Coughlin, Annie Scheel
Contractor: Island Contracting
Photography: Alan Tansey Photography