When designing this elevated beach house in a hazardous flood zone in Westerly, RI our architecture firm viewed the area under the home as an opportunity rather than a challenge. We designed a well detailed outdoor room below the Shingle Style structure making the summer house feel much larger than its 2,300 s.f. of conditioned space. Sustainable Ipe wood floors, beadboard ceilings and craftsman style lanterns create an inviting dining/entertaining area with picturesque grade level views of Winnapaug Pond. Our approach to the space under the elevated house has the added advantage of visually grounded the building by concealing structural pilings behind flared shingled columns. The stair is enclosed on the ground floor creating a welcoming entrance to a second floor living space with spectacular views of the pond and Block Island Sound.