NAUTILUS HOUSE
SANIBEL, FL
Under Construction
The Nautilus House is a coastal retreat designed for living in concert with its dune site, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico on Sanibel Island. Structured in concrete to weather the elements, it is simultaneously carved with deeply recessed openings to embrace breathtaking views and invite natural light deep into the interior, framing an intimate relationship with the coastal habitat. As a crucial coastal ecosystem, the site is characterized by native vegetation like sea oats and provides nesting grounds for endangered sea turtles and migratory shorebirds. The design takes cues from the indigenous raw materials and climate while thoughtfully transforming a complex matrix of Local, State, Federal, and HOA constraints into a canvas for innovative spatial and material solutions. Elevated 15 feet above sea level to comply with FEMA’s floodplain clearances, the design still manages to comfortably fit two occupiable stories under a pitched roof while respecting tight setbacks and a 35’ height restriction.
The solution to these constraints lies in the dwelling’s volumetric and spatial planning. Responding to the diagonal geometry of the coastal setback line, and the vertical compression required by the zoning restrictions, walls rotate around a central stair to establish lateral stiffness while organizing the interior in an echo of the logarithmic spiral of a nautilus shell. Cradled within the chambers of the nautilus plan, spaces unfold, creating unexpected and fluid diagonal openness throughout the house. The flexible porous interior layout has fully integrated storage but requires few doors, allowing each area of the house to maintain a distinct relationship with light and view, while controlling exposure to neighboring properties. As one ascends through the home on carefully crafted stairs, strategically placed corner windows and cantilevered overhangs frame dynamic views of the Gulf and gently illuminate the interior. The experience culminates in a crescendo of skylights and expansive openings, oriented to capture the shifting natural light throughout the day. From the crisp morning by the sea to the warm embrace of a Gulf sunset, the Nautilus House is a robust and volumetrically dynamic architecture in harmony with its sublime and transient coastal environment.