Exterior materials

Can smarter materials and better engineering mitigate the risk of living near the sea?

Illustration by Tim Vienckowski

“The whole idea is very simple: If floodwater comes, it flows around and underneath the building. It doesn’t compromise any of the structure above.” John Berg, architect

Seifert Construction installed the panels with open joints, yet the building’s thermal envelope is safe from wind pressure.

The home, which is on Long Island Sound, is made of hardworking materials. Its Gore-Tex-wrapped plywood sheathing is protected by an Equitone fiber-cement rainscreen, which is the first line of defense during harsh weather conditions.

Cedar rainscreen in a range of widths and color stains makes up the facade. The low-slung exterior was designed to respond to the surrounding topography. "The design of the house provides a subtle, and at times, dramatic response to the open Midwestern terrain and offers a contemporary interpretation of 'prairie style' architecture," El Dorado Inc principal Josh Shelton says.