A new vernacular home on a remote stretch of Virginia’s Eastern shore sits on raised wood piles nestled within a forested landscape along the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. On approach, we
intended for the house to appear “settled” within this quiet and very rural landscape. To ameliorate the visual condition of a raised pile foundation, we designed a parged masonry wall in the foreground as a bearing wall for one side of the house and created a planted earthen berm to further soften its presence. The opposite side of the house is nearly all glass with a northern
exposure, great for ambient light, and provides panoramic views of Craddock Creek and the Chesapeake Bay. Exterior materials are weathered western red cedar, stucco, and standing seam
metal roofing. A masonry fireplace with an expressed steel pipe flue is parged with native Tabby oyster-shell stucco. The interior is filled with sun light and finished in reclaimed wide plank wood
flooring, stone tile, white-washed wood planks, custom mill work and tall airy ceilings evoking the casual and comfort of well-loved family farmhouse.
Photography by Kip Dawkins