Champlain House
Placed on a compact lot, the Champlain House Fire Island home maximizes stunning 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 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. These areas are designed as serene retreats to relax, entertain, and soak in the beach atmosphere.
Skylights installed at the roof level flood both levels with natural sunlight. A slanted spiral outdoor shower sits concealed in matching slatted cedar; rows of evergreen trees line the back end of the property ensuring privacy. Lilting beach grasses face east and complement the seaside views. With an attentive eye on proximity to the salt air and ocean, building choices incorporated traditional but climate-conscious materials. A long slatted-wood ramp creates an accessible and useful pathway from the dunes to the structure, making for effortless movement between shoreline and home.
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.
Credits
Team: Paul Coughlin, Annie Scheel