As there is no freight barge to Block Island to carry materials, only a passenger ferry, Bates Masi + Architects adopted the traditional framing method used in nearby buildings. From this constraint emerged a Douglas fir structure that, left exposed internally, forms the foundation of the interiors. “Designing a house for yourself as an architect is like a lab experiment,” says Masi. “There’s a lot of education in living there and seeing how your ideas play out on a day-to-day basis.” Rather than being wrapped in plywood, the home features tongue-and-groove floorboards and cedar shake roofing, the oils of which naturally contribute to weather resistance.
The site is long and narrow, stretching from the street to the ocean. By placing the garage in front of the house, the architect establishes a clear transition from public to private. This move also pushes the home to the highest point of the plot, maximising views from within. “As you enter through the front door, you are greeted by a framed ocean vista,” says Masi. “An open living-kitchen-dining area follows, as well as a covered deck, which serves as an extension of those spaces. The deck offers bleacher-style seating down to the landscape.” Inside, the bedrooms are distributed across three levels, allowing the lower third of the house to accommodate a children’s bunk room and recreation area.
