HATTERAS BEACH HOUSE: Hatteras Island, North Carolina

25 miles off the coast of North Carolina, 70 miles of barrier islands form Cape Hatteras. At a spot where two oceans collide, the northbound warm waters of the Gulf Stream meet the cold waters of the southbound Labrador Current. Along this shoreline, National seashore is intertwined with private development of large scale residential rental properties.

Originally designed for a large extended family on land purchased more than thirty years ago, this prototype is nestled in to one of the last empty ocean front lots in Hatteras Village. Set back a considerable distance from the shoreline, the house is designed to take advantage of ocean views. Construction in this harsh environment must withstand hurricane force winds, flooding, intense heat and the corrosive effects of salt air.