Designed for the Coast

The Lowcountry of South Carolina poses many challenges for architects and builders, who have to design and construct homes in an area prone to severe coastal weather, earthquakes, and intense sun. When asked to design a house in a Lowcountry development, architect Gordon Nicholson welcomed the challenges and drew his inspiration from a traditional house form, the Charleston single. This long, one-room-wide home makes ideal use of the space on a lot that's less than 50 ft. wide, with porches for outdoor living, a parking and storage area beneath the house, and strategically placed windows that take advantage of daylighting and cool breezes. To withstand hurricane-force winds, the entire house is tied together with a series of straps and ties, and it's reinforced with blocking to deflect flying debris.