The Tsunami House is a waterfront home located in a
and galvanized standing seam panels. Another difficult
high velocity flood (V) zone on the northern end of Camano
aspect of the small site was the requirement of an above
Island. Due to FEMA requirements, the main living level
ground sand filter drain field. The sand filter was integrated
was required to be located a minimum of 5' above grade and
into the overall design aesthetic by encasing it in 3' high
the foundations had to be open pilings capable of
architectural concrete walls with a pervious sun deck on top.
withstanding high velocity tsunami wave action. Any
The drain field/sun deck also acts as a visual barrier
enclosed space below was required to be designed with
between the road and the house providing privacy.
walls that were able to break away in the event of a high speed water surge. The design strategy was to locate the main living level
The lower level “Flood Room” is furnished fairly sparsely with a polished concrete floor and cedar ceilings to add warmth to the otherwise industrial feeling of the lower
9' above grade and leave the lower level to be used as a
level. A steel stair constructed of bent plate steel leads up to
flexible multiuse space dubbed the “Flood Room.” Glass
the main living area, which is designed as a great room with
overhead doors open up to the waterside deck facing north
the kitchen, living, dining, and a third level sleeping
and to the entry courtyard facing south. The glass doors
loft facing the water. The master bedroom located adjacent
were installed with specially engineered fasteners designed
to the great room has sliding translucent doors that let light
to fail under high pressure which will allow the any high
into the space and open up to the water view. The finishes
velocity waves to travel through the lower level of the house
of the upper level are more refined with porcelain tiles on the
without compromising structural integrity.
floor, cedar on the ceiling and a sculptured “wave” plaster
The exterior materials of the house are durable and low maintenance. The architectural concrete columns are left exposed and the exterior siding is a mixture of composite
panel and milled finished steel trim surrounding the fireplace. The interior ship ladder and loft railings are mill finish steel throughout.