FEATURES

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Then he added a second floor, which meant he had to make the roof flat to conform to local height restrictions.

The building footprint is tight on the long, narrow lot, with only a few feet to spare on either side, so Horst installed massive glass walls on three exposures to let sun pour in throughout the day. On the ocean side, facing east, the 42-foot-tall, glass-paneled wall slants outward, so anyone sitting in the great room or kitchen can look out on the infinity pool and the ocean beyond it. On the second floor, the master bedroom suite is tucked into a glass-walled balcony overlooking the great room. From it, you can also see through the canted glass wall to the ocean.

Horst then installed screens and movable glass panels in the canted wall to accommodate the banker's wish to hear the crashing surf and enjoy the ocean breezes.

The owner has a large family and loves to entertain, so Horst designed the public spaces for groups. There is a big, welcoming foyer, wide hallways, an open dining room, fully fitted, professional eat-in kitchen and, most impressive, the soaring great room. By contrast, the private spaces are very private. The ground-floor guest bedrooms can be accessed only through "secret" doors disguised in the wood-paneled wall adjoining the foyer.

The interior is all about light, so white predominates on the walls, ceilings, countertops, stairs and upholstery. Almost everything else is in natural wood (Brazilian cherrywood floors, cabinetry, dining room table and chairs) or pale travertine marble, the pièce de résistance being the great room fireplace Horst custom-designed in a Mondrian-like patchwork of marble blocks chiseled in different patterns. Glass wall panels, steel and copper accents and contemporary metal sculptures add notes of glamour.

If the décor seems too elegant for a beach house, it is.