Contemporary T House
Retirement Retreat with a View
A one-room-wide retirement retreat spills outside with large doors and north-facing windows.
This home featured in Residential Design Magazine.
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Location
Beaufort, SCStyle
ContemporaryContractor
TD Builders
Photographer
John McManusPublications
Outdoor Sanctuary
Beaufort, South Carolina is a historic coastal town with a hot, humid climate. The historic architecture vernacular addressed the climate with large overhangs, large porches, high ceilings and single-width houses for cross ventilation. A historic building material used is tabby, a concrete recipe made from oyster shells, sand, and lime. Tabby ruins are found just blocks away from the T-House.
Weather Resistant
The T-House was designed to withstand coastal hurricanes and the harsh environment, to be energy-efficient, and sustainable. The windows and doors have impact glass. The Hardie-Plank siding is extremely durable and is installed over a rainscreen. The large overhangs protect the walls from rain. The open cell spray insulation, highly efficient HVAC system, and instantaneous water heater all contribute to overall sustainability for the house.
Economically Engineered
Working within a modest budget, we were very judicious in getting the most for our client’s money. Design strategies for saving money included a four-foot module to minimize material waste, concrete floors, a 5-V metal roof, porcelain tile, economy stone slabs, slab doors and cabinets and standard appliances.
From the client…
“We retained Frederick + Frederick to design our new home in Beaufort, SC, and it was a very wise decision. The Fredericks seamlessly handled the design, prepared construction drawings, scheduled interviews with recommended contractors, and conducted weekly inspections during construction of our home. We lived 9 hours away and greatly looked forward to the weekly reports, which included numerous photos and drone videos (very cool). Throughout the process we not only had someone “holding our hand”, but we also had assistance in narrowing down every selection/decision to just a handful, in lieu of the hundreds we may otherwise have faced.
We would have no hesitation in recommending the Frederick’s to anyone needing a “one stop shop” (from permit to occupancy) or simply help with a home’s design, they can do it all.”