Wind Scrawl House

Where sea meets structure, and breeze becomes form.

Perched above dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this Virginia Beach residence draws deeply from its setting. Its architecture is an homage to the rhythmic language of the coast—the whispers of sea breezes across sand, captured and cast in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Ductal concrete panels, etched with the delicate, ever-changing patterns of wind-sculpted dunes, sheath the home in a durable yet poetic skin. These textures shift in tone and shadow throughout the day, echoing the movement of light across the tide.

This home achieves an impressive HERS rating of 20, using 80% less energy than a comparable code-built structure. Powered by rooftop solar panels that meet the home’s energy needs, it stands out as one of the most-energy-efficient projects in the region.

Visitors are welcomed into a tranquil entry courtyard, where a fountain pool anchors the space—a mirror to the sky and an introduction to the home’s intimate relationship with water. A slender bridge hovers just above the surface, guiding guests across the water and into the home.

A water rill—narrow and quiet—flows from the fountain, along the edge of the site and connects to the pool. It becomes a linear narrative that connects the entry to the vastness of the sea beyond, creating a visual and sonic thread that ties the architecture to the ocean horizon.

The materials used resonate deeply with the site. Exterior limestone panels visually connect the home to the nearby sand dunes, grounding it in the landscape. Inside, the color palette evokes the warmth of the natural setting—wood floors in the color of sand and Venetian plaster walls that reflect the expanse of the sky.

Here, the house is not just near the ocean—it is shaped by it.