A straightforward request to tear down an existing house and build a new one on the foundation of the old one seemed simple enough. But FEMA rules made it otherwise. Even though the 1999 foundation had flood vents, it turns out that it needed to be removed entirely—even filling in the foundation was not an option. The silver lining is that unconstrained by the old foundation we were free to explore options for the configuration of the house.

In a neighborhood of modest houses our clients wanted the street elevation to be sensitive to the context. To manage the scale of the project, we divided the mass into two parts separated by a glass link that contains the entry and stair. The rear elevation, only visible from the water, could be less constrained. A room-width slider disappears into the wall and opens the kitchen to the deck. A large volume on the second floor opens the main bedroom to the view. An outdoor shower connects the inside and outside.

The family's preference for simple, easy-to-maintain interiors, lead us to using the large format porcelain tile floors in the main living space and allows unencumbered circulation from the indoors to outdoors. Flush baseboards, minimal window and door casings, open riser stairs, a recessed marble plane behind the contemporary wood-burning stove, the all-white kitchen with a white-on-white Heath tile backsplash, and simple furnishings all reflect the minimalist aesthetic of the residents.

The bright super graphics in the high-ceiling kids' rooms and the alternating step stair/bookcase to the play loft, reflect the family fun that happens in this house.