My Houzz: Super Efficiency and Serenity Near the Florida Surf
Architects Jody Beck and Ross-Alan Tisdale, the husband and wife behind Traction Architecture, wanted to design a beachfront getaway their entire family could enjoy for generations. “The house is meant to be a weekend retreat for my parents and extended family,” says Beck.
The LEED Platinum-certified home, referred to as the Seagrape House, stands tall amidst sea grape trees on the waterfront of Anna Maria Island, Florida. “In designing the house, I was interested in the nature of the site as a barrier island, where the line between land and sea is redrawn with each passing storm,” says Beck. “I thought of the house as an anchor in this shifting landscape, and also saw it as an anchor for my family.”
Beck and Tisdale worked closely with builder Sean Moloney of Whitehead Construction. “The structure and shell are constructed entirely of poured-in-place concrete to withstand a potential hurricane,” says Beck. The couple used recycled materials and locally sourced products throughout, and photovoltaic (solar) panels on the roof to provide the bulk of the home’s energy needs. “Unlike the typical home, where the splurges are in the finishes, we spent our money on the home’s cast-in-place concrete structure, to ensure a strong, hurricane-proof home, allowing us to incorporate dramatic cantilevers and unobstructed views,” says Beck. “The finishes are simple and cost effective.”
Much of the home is furnished with original midcentury pieces belonging to Beck’s grandmother, including the Saarinen chairs shown here. “All we did was reupholster them,” she says.
Locally sourced cypress wraps the ceiling and second floor as a warm contrast to the concrete walls and floors. “I like the idea of the materials in the house telling the story about how the house was made,” Beck says.
“Open-plan living spaces are visually connected, but broken up into distinct areas to provide separate zones for various activities,” says Beck. Shown here is the dining space, located in the kitchen.
The kitchen is kept minimalist and geometric, with recycled-paper countertops from PaperStone.
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My Houzz: Super Efficiency and Serenity Near the Florida Surf
