Glass House on a Lowcountry Lagoon

Recently the Wall Street Journal selected the "Lips Room" house on Kiawah Island by architect and Houzzer Christopher Rose as its House of the Day. To be sure, with its expansive walls of glass and high-tech-meets-Lowcountry feel, we're not surprised. 

The home is located on the edge of a lagoon on Kiawah Island in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Built four years ago and sized at 4,200 square feet, the house features a large great room overlooking the lagoon. A desire to maximize those lagoon views while ensuring the structure could withstand hurricanes and earthquakes drove the home's design. The extensive use of glass on the back side of the home captures these views while the front is a bit more traditional in design. 

In fact, according to Rose, the client insisted on making the house in general and the great room in particular as transparent as possible. The client was all for it when Rose suggested the use of an exposed steel frame to accomplish this goal. This led both architect and client down the path to an exciting and light filled home that embraces its setting.

Why is it called the "Lips Room" house? Read on.

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The great room features walls of glass on all sides. The steel frame structure, finished a dark gray, is exposed and evident in the much of the house. 

To minimize the amount of frame, the windows and doors were manufactured byHenselstone and imported from Germany. Sun control is achieved with built-in motorized shades. 

The open structure stair complements the steel framed structure of the house. And the walls are clearly treated as thin screen like infill panels. 

The bedroom features soaring walls of glass and vaulted ceilings. As in the great room, motorized window shades control sunlight and privacy.

View more photos and full article here.