Saltwinds
A new house for a special site atop a bluff, with a panoramic view across the bay and of Provincetown’s skyline, is designed around the sun. Our client sought net-zero energy use and asked for a design to maximize solar energy collection. The house not only has a large array of solar panels, but also geothermal heating and cooling. This requires wells dug into the Earth to capture a consistent moderate temperature, along with extra-thick walls and triple-glazed windows. The house has a HERS Rating of –38.
It’s not very common to see a house where contemporary and vernacular styles merge. This house is wood-clad, but not shingled; it has window divisions, but not small panes. The setting—a stark, historic, and highly specific landscape—demands the house itself become a work of art suited to its rare and beautiful environment.
| Project Category | Seaside |
|---|---|
| Scope of Work | Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Construction |
| Finished Space Above Grade | 2,969 |
| Photography | Brian Vanden Brink |
It’s interesting to see how the starting point of maximizing southern exposure for a roof affects the ultimate form of a house with views to its west and north.
The shed roof forms, which make up the bulk of the house, are designed to capture southern sun exposure, and that exposure is to the side of a house that is otherwise oriented toward views in a different direction. The three-part roof composition ultimately establishes the character of the entire design.
Spatially-rich interiors shaped by light, view, and detail.
The interior is organized around continuous connection to the water, with large expanses of glass framing the views. Double-height living spaces are softened by a curved rail, sculptural ceiling, and cascading pendant that draws the eye between levels. A contemporary feel with wood tones, crisp white walls, flush moldings, and recessed linear lighting. Living, kitchen, and dining areas flow together, oriented to the horizon. Throughout, the detailing supports comfort and performance, aligning with the home’s high-efficiency goals.
This coastal community is one of open, rolling hills, where homes sit as distinct objects within the landscape.
In addition to the house, PSD designed and built a long and beautiful stair that leads down to the beach. A video of the stairway is included here. The descent becomes part of the experience of moving between house and coastline, with landings along the way that offer places to rest and also take in the view.
