Seaside

Seaside is a 1,400-square-foot guest house and beach cabana by Stelle Architects, located between the ocean and a saltwater pond in Seaside. The project replaces an earlier, dilapidated structure that previously sat at grade, elevating the new building 11 feet above the ground and slightly below the top of the surrounding dunes. The construction restores the site with a diverse selection of native plantings, reinforcing integration with the landscape. The space beneath the main volume accommodates open parking, storage, building access, and a shaded deck positioned near the dunes and the beach pathway. Access to the interiors begins with a straight stair set against white Venetian plaster walls, illuminated by a continuous skylight that wraps down both north and south sides, creating an effect reminiscent of a breezeway animated by moving light and shadows. The house is arranged with a simple, open floor plan that maximizes efficiency, drawing comparisons to the interior arrangement of a boat. Exterior stairs, discreetly set behind louvered screens, connect directly to the beach and to a roof deck. Vertical weathered wood clads both the exterior rainscreen and interiors, while open louvered walls further minimize the building’s visual impact and maintain a modest profile above the restored dunes.