Ocean House | Roger Ferris + Partners

This residence along the Rhode Island coast is a blend of contemporary and traditional elements. The 5,500-square-foot home’s ensemble is composed of connected gabled forms evocative of traditional New England boatsheds. Wetland constraints limit the useable site area, informing building location and orientation. The west elevation offers sweeping views of the coastline, extending interior space to the continuous raised deck—the principle outdoor living space. The spaces between the building forms provide shelter from strong winds. The main entry features a 40-foot-long wood ramp that recalls neighboring boat yards leads to a sheltered entrance between gabled building forms. The kitchen terrace on the left of the entry captures morning sunlight, while the lap pool on the right is located on the leeward side for protection from onshore winds. For sustainability: Motorized retractable window shades, roof overhangs to the east and west, and aluminum louvers provide sun control. The siding and decking is made of weathered Ipe, and the roofing and chimneys are of zinc. The deep sides walls are super-insulated; roof water runoff is captured in cisterns and reused; the crushed shell driveway is permeable; and the landscape plantings are of native meadow grasses.