The House of Shifting Sands

When we last posted photos of our Griffin Island house in Wellfleet, MA, the board-formed concrete foundation under the main house was rising out of the sand and the art studio was taking form to the south. Time flies, but now we can proudly show you a more complete house, with its asymmetrically arcing copper roof above the main living / dining space, curving planar walls and volumes, and a gently shifting geometry that ties the house to its ever-shifting, sandy environment. Stay tuned for a post from Sandra on the construction of the curves!

The house is designed to appear to float out of and above its shifting, sandy site. The main house touches down gently, half way up the coastal bank so that the natural landscape retains its primacy. The house is designed to appear to float out of and above its shifting, sandy site. The main house touches down gently, half way up the coastal bank so that the natural landscape retains its primacy.

On the Cape Cod Bay side, we worked hard to make sure the house keeps below the dramatic coastal bank and dunes. As a result, the house is almost invisible from the beach, with only the curving copper roof being occasionally visible. On the Cape Cod Bay side, we worked hard to make sure the house keeps below the dramatic coastal bank and dunes. As a result, the house is almost invisible from the beach, with only the curving copper roof being occasionally visible.

The arcing roof above the living / dining space is primarily seen in profile, and we tapered the edge to further reduce its visual mass and therefore be more in keeping with its fragile natural environment. The arcing roof above the living / dining space is primarily seen in profile, and we tapered the edge to further reduce its visual mass and therefore be more in keeping with its fragile natural environment.

We decided to use copper for the arcing roof since copper will patina over time and that will help the roof and the house virtually melt into its surroundings. We decided to use copper for the arcing roof since copper will patina over time and that will help the roof and the house virtually melt into its surroundings.

Each of the house’s volumes is cantilevered beyond the structure below, to enhance its floating and shifting character. Each of the house’s volumes is cantilevered beyond the structure below, to enhance its floating and shifting character.

The shifting volumes of the house also interpret and express the similarly shifting character of the sandy site. The shifting volumes of the house also interpret and express the similarly shifting character of the sandy site.

The art studio is detailed to be more firmly grounded on the Bay side, with elements that cantilever on the other three sides to help ease it into its natural landscape. The art studio is detailed to be more firmly grounded on the Bay side, with elements that cantilever on the other three sides to help ease it into its natural landscape.

The exterior cantilevers and floating elements also help prepare you for the experience of being inside, where you feel like you are almost floating on Cape Cod Bay. The exterior cantilevers and floating elements also help prepare you for the experience of being inside, where you feel like you are almost floating on Cape Cod Bay.

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