Ocean Bluff

Ocean Bluff is a single-family residence designed by Stelle Architects, situated 160 feet above the Atlantic with views over dunes to the coastline. The property’s steep grade informed the use of board-formed concrete retaining walls, which guide entry and allow the house to integrate with a carefully revegetated site that once consisted of sloping lawn down to the dunes. A lower level, partially excavated on the north side, admits daylight through a planted garden, establishing a sheltered counterpoint to the exposed ocean frontage and shaping the approach via a covered bridge across the garden. The house presents as a single-story beach house from the street, but reveals two levels as the terrain drops away to the south, exposing expanses of floor-to-ceiling glass and an infinity pool visually continuous with the sea. Outdoor terraces offer seating areas oriented for sun or shade. Exterior cladding employs Shou Sugi Ban siding for weather resistance and to emphasize changing conditions through its shadow box effect. Environmental strategies include solar panels, geothermal systems, high-performance glazing and insulation, alongside deep overhangs and trellises, reducing the building’s energy demands in its exposed coastal context.