Longport Residence

Built on a wedge-shaped site, this seaside vacation home takes advantage of its vertical composition on a constrained footprint. Unstable soil, buffeting winds, and relentless tides on the exposed Point created substantial engineering and bracing problems, which Morpurgo Architects solved by stabilizing existing bulkheads and introducing more than 150 piles capped with concrete grade beams. A shimmering, 3-story, glass block wall is the focal point of the bleached cedar, sculpted façade. The multilevel entrance hall frames the ocean view while connecting the three levels with a dramatic staircase. From the moment of entry the eye is carried out to the horizon and vertically through the house. On the second level, the primary living space offers a panoramic vista. Morpurgo Architects designed the built-in furniture, integral to the design concept. The third level is dedicated to the master bedroom suite, which features an undulating, balcony wall that presents a layering of sea and sky views through a two-story window facing the ocean. This modern residence was featured on the cover of “Architecture,” the journal of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), distributed at their annual convention.