At The Water's Edge: The Grid in Coastal Construction

Abstract

The Outer Banks are a special place at the end of land and the beginning of water, and yet, most of the houses built on these islands seem to take no notice. A drive down the beach road reveals house after house that are essentially suburban dwellings raised above flood level on piles. This project proposes that oceanfront homes should not be pale imitations of inland housing, but rather as unique as the environment in which they exist. The architect must design for the long term needs of the client and use elements dictated by the environment as integral parts of the design to create a building that is both responsive to and reflective of the condition that occurs at the water's edge.