For many, Hurricane Sandy was a major inconvenience—a week without power, a Halloween postponed. But in Noroton Bay, where a third of the residences were damaged, the storm’s impact hit home as locals contended with reconstruction on a mass scale. This summer, the streets show signs of life returning to normal. And on some blocks, things look better than ever. To wit: A residence by Hemingway Construction incorporates new FEMA requirements in an award-winning design.
The Challenge
One of the first new homes built to new FEMA guidelines, it recently won a HOBI award for Hemingway Construction and the company’s Vice President, Peter Sciarretta, who says the challenge here was to relate the first-floor elevation (at 13 feet higher than sea level) to the street, (at 6 feet higher than sea level). The builder did it with a beautiful foundation.
The Solution
Hemingway created elaborate terraces surrounded by stone walls. Off the kitchen is the first and highest elevated terrace. This area transitions down to the next terrace, which encompasses the pool. The exterior then transitions down to grade. The overall look is natural.
Stormproof
The home is built to withstand heavy weather. Smart vents in the stone walls allow water to flow under the house and back out as the tide would. Plus, all windows and doors are insulated with stormproof glass and galvanized anchoring straps. There’s a generator, too, with capacity to run the entire house.