The Client: Sea Loft in Sea Pines of Hilton Head Island
In 2019, the client sold their expansive home at Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, eager to find a smaller, more modern dwelling within the same community. They purchased the iconic “Sea Loft” residence, an octagonal home built in 1973, knowing it needed some enhancements.
The client sought to expand the interior and deck space of the Sea Loft, enhancing indoor and outdoor living to capitalize on the stunning view and nearby Harbor Town. They also insisted on preserving the house’s iconic octagonal shape, keeping new structural changes to a minimum.
The Challenge: Marshy Floodplans & Code Requirements
The Sea Loft Residence project presented unique challenges, including:
1. Its location on a marshy floodplain.
2. The new house needed more interior and outdoor space while preserving as much of the old design aesthetic as possible.
3. Several elements of the old house not meeting code requirements.
29E6 collaborated closely with project architect Mark Rushing to find creative solutions to these unique challenges and make the clients’ dreams a reality.
The Solution: The Team
29E6 worked with all stakeholders in the project:
Mark Rushing, Architect
Glen Burkart, Contractor
Eric Rayburn, Fabricator
29E6, Specialty Engineer
The improvements were decided to predominantly use steel and wood.
1. Steel’s high strength would accommodate the new loads with minimal material. Since the original house featured wood extensively, we decided to carry this material choice over to the enhancements.
2. 29E6 subjected the new design to simulated wind and seismic load conditions, which ensured the octagonal structure and its improvements could withstand various seismic conditions and wind pressures from different angles. .
3. Due to 29E6’s precise engineering calculations, the project team could preserve the Sea Loft’s existing roofs and walls, introducing only a minimal number of columns and using thin steel members to uphold the original design concept.
The Results: Additional Indoor & Outdoor Space
Demolition and replacement of the existing first floor and non-code-compliant spiral stair allowed the project team to add 226 square feet to the first floor, creating new storage and office space.
On the second floor, the existing octagonal deck, stairs, landing, and ramp were demolished and rebuilt. The old bridge was replaced with a 6-foot-wide open deck walkway, an outdoor dining platform, and code-compliant stairs and landing. A new two-foot extension over the rear yard was included, as requested by the owners.
The glowed-up Sea Loft enjoys more than double the original outdoor space. It fulfills the owners’ dream of living in a compact, iconic, chic, and 100% FEMA-compliant home they can control from their devices.
29E6 thanks Mark Rushing at Principals Of Design for use of photography featuring this project.
