Shearwater House

As the oceans rise and frequent storms spread devastation, beachfront properties have become as vulnerable as those in fire zones. And yet, permits are still issued for new construction that ignores the threat of climate change and can become a death trap. Olson Kundig’s founding partner Tom Kundig’s Shearwater House turns peril to advantage. A young professional couple found an idyllic coastal site in their home state of Mississippi. They wanted a safe haven in which to raise a family, and were inspired by two early, frugal projects of Kundig at the other end of the country. Delta Shelter and the Rolling Huts in east Washington State are both raised off the ground to protect them from flooding, and that idea took wing in the new 156-sq. m Shearwater House, which is raised 7 m off the ground to survive storm surges. Like the Australian houses of Glenn Murcutt, it makes good use of humble materials and sits lightly on the land.

Though the budget was tight, Kundig welcomed the challenge of creating a work of art that is light yet resilient, a composition of cubes oriented north-south. The house is clad in rusted steel treated to withstand the humid climate, and raised on slender steel piers and two watertight storage containers. Black steel stairs ascend to a catwalk that links the tree canopy to the entrance. The screen porch is a traditional feature of Southern houses, but here the height brings cooling breezes and a welcome absence of mosquitos, as well as sweeping views over wetlands to the horizon, with a primary suite extending east into trees. A wood ceiling, built-in shelves, a bench in the foyer and a butcher block kitchen island add warmth to steel cabinetry and the exposed concrete floor slab.

A gently sloping roof is wired for solar panels but the house relies on passive strategies for cooling through the sultry summers. A flap in the roof evacuates hot air and roof planes extend out to shade the windows, which open to...

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