Sea Del House
A Modern Oceanfront Retreat
The Sea Del House hovers over the sand dunes of North Bethany Beach, DE, residing in a gated community among a cluster of second homes built in the 1970s & 1980s. The new home replaces a small wood-framed structure that didn't meet the owner's needs and had been battered by the elements, though it would remain as a starting point for a project led by one of the region's most acclaimed architects, Robert Gurney, FAIA.
As a firm, Robert Gurney Architect has completed several award-winning residential projects throughout the East Coast of the US, this being their first oceanfront home, which came with its own set of unique challenges. To protect against potential flooding, county ordinances required homes to be elevated twelve feet above sea level. Consequently, these houses were typically framed on wood piles. Updated Delaware Natural Resource and Environmental Control (DNREC) guidelines required a new home to be built further from the ocean than the existing home, however, the DNREC guidelines did allow for rebuilding on existing piles, but without building any new pilings on the ocean side of the newly established “DNREC Line.”
These requirements greatly influenced the design and structural components of the project. The new house and oceanfront decks are designed above twenty-two pre-existing wood piles, while eight newly constructed piles, located outside the DNREC area, allowed for the expansion of the building envelope; composed of three intersecting volumes that incorporate all of the living spaces, an elevator tower, a large oceanfront deck, and a second small side deck.
Materials for the exterior, including fiber cement panels, stucco, and wood slats, were selected to withstand weather and maintenance concerns while offering an elegant modern aesthetic. The interior proportions are subtly grand and intentionally paired with minimal finishes, like walnut flooring and white-painted millwork that brilliantly elevate the oceanfront experience. The design takes full advantage of incomparable exposures of the Atlantic Ocean, it is breathtaking.
A driveway patterned with large geometric shapes leads to the ground-floor entrance. Through the front door, a staircase and an elevator provide access to the upper levels. An open floorplan greets you on the main level, with full-height glass doors offering views of the beach and sea, sliding open to the large terrace. While two bedrooms and two bathrooms are housed on this level, the home offers six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and 4,200 square feet in total.
A marvel, which cannot be constructed by today's standards and regulations. This property is more than just a home; it’s a sensory experience where the seamless interaction between indoor and outdoor living takes center stage. A rare opportunity to own a residence that is as much a work of art as it is a sanctuary. A result of unparalleled ocean views, sophisticated design, and a deep connection to the natural environment. Please feel free to contact us for more details or an introduction for a showing with the listing agent, our colleague Justin Noble at Monument Sotheby's International Realty.
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ROBERT GURNEY ARCHITECT
