House on Block Island
The view from this wooded, west facing site is dramatic, from the eastern tip of Long Island on the south to the Rhode Island coast on the north. Oddly, the existing house did not take full advantage of the view; only a single set of sliding glass doors faced the ocean. It was determined that the most sustainable strategy was to renovate the existing house, despite its shortcomings, and add a wing that would maximize the views and provide access to an existing grassy clearing in the woods to the south.
The expansive view is slowly revealed as one moves along the relocated driveway to the entry porch, into the house and then onto the west and south-facing decks. To encourage leisurely socializing, the plan concentrates the public spaces where the view, both from inside and on the decks, is most compelling.