New Home Build in Block Island, RI

PROCESS

EngineHouse relocated to Block Island for two years to realize this project. Built by a core team with help from a rotating group of friends, we were responsible for the design, fabrication, and construction of as much of the project as possible, including framing, welding, cabinetmaking, and custom lighting. Acting as both designers and builders, we strove for honesty of structure and craftsmanship. Every detail was chosen to prioritize longevity in the face of the harsh northeastern island climate.

FINISHED PRODUCT

The resulting summer home on a seaside bluff is a spare reinterpretation of vernacular coastal New England architecture and materials. A steel-framed floating switchback stair acts as a minimalist divider at the center of the multi-level home, flanked on one side by the airy, modern kitchen and descending on the other side into the living space. Fuel storage for the wood-burning stove is tucked neatly beneath the last layer of stairs, and the repetition of vertical windows and doors echoes the expansive nature of the surrounding landscape.

Stainless steel counters and smooth concrete surfaces lend a crisp brightness to the interior, while softer design elements like wide pine flooring hearken back to early architectural practices of the region. A rooftop deck and tiered green roof blur the boundaries between outside and inside, and custom lighting fixtures and furniture further elevate the truly unique status of this space.

Check out the full construction process @ enginehouse.tumblr.com

DESIGN
EngineHouse with Kellen Fenaughty, QUARTER Design Studio, + Max Waldron

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Structures Workshop

KITCHEN TABLE
DayShift Furniture

GREEN ROOF
LiveRoof Hybrid Green Roof

CEDAR SIDING
Liberty Cedar